Heel Tough Blog: TCU Preview

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The Tar Heels begin Year 2 under Bill Belichick on Saturday in the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, Ireland where they will look to avenge last year’s season opening loss to the TCU Horned Frogs. With a team that is in a much different spot than they were a year ago at this time, there is a budding confidence that the team will at least put together a better showing than they did last year and possibly even pull the upset. Here’s is a look at everything you need to know heading into  tomorrow’s game that kicks off the college football season.

Team Breakdowns

Tar Heels

As we said above, this team rolls into this game much more prepared than the group that took to Kenan Stadium last year. With no spring transfer portal, the majority of this roster was with the team in the spring and was able to go through summer player-led practices, something they weren’t even able to conduct a year ago. That put the team in a much better place heading into fall camp, where they were able to focus on fine tuning things and letting battles play out as opposed to evaluating and teaching a group of brand new guys that they needed to be significant contributors.

Offensively, there is an expectation that this group will be better under the direction of new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who has a very successful track record at the college level as recently as last year. He’ll be working with starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who beat out Miles O’Neill for the starting job in camp, to formulate an offense that can move the ball more consistently and explosively than they did a year ago. While Edwards Jr. isn’t the most exciting quarterback that the team could have gotten out of the portal, he did a good job of protecting the football back in his time as a starter at Maryland in 2024 and was able to move the ball effectively at times through the air despite an average depth of target of just 8.5 yards per attempt. Edwards, at the least, should be able to provide better quarterback play than Gio Lopez did a year ago and the team does have talented options behind him that they can turn to if he struggles, something they didn’t have last season. One thing that could help Edwards would be if the team was able to run the ball better than they did last season. Benjamin Hall has been one of the talks of the offseason with the strides that he has supposedly made and expectations are pretty high for him heading into this first game. He’ll pair with Demon June, who led the team in rushing a year ago and is hoping that he can take that next step this season. Don’t sleep on Jaylen McGill, either, who came on nicely in fall camp and he seemed to earn the trust of the coaching staff. In order to be better than last season, though, the team will improve up front after a rough showing in 2025. The team only returns one starter from the final game of the season and has a ton of new faces across, but there is a budding confidence that this group will be better than last year based on what they showed in camp. Aidan Banfield is back from his injury and will anchor the unit from the right guard position, while Christo Kelly is back from his own injury and hopes to prove himself as a power conference offensive lineman at center. Left guard is a bit of a question mark with Charleston Southern transfer Andrew Threatt, but he was someone that the staff prioritized and has had running with the ones all offseason. At the tackle spot, Jordan Hall is apparently making strides after starting the final four games of last season, while Shaq McRoy and Eidan Buchnanan are battling it out into gameday at right tackle. If the Tar Heels can find their best five quickly and everyone lives up to expectations, this group has a chance to at least be average this season, which would be a far cry from last year’s unit. They’ll be helped by a tight end room that was the talk of the offseason with how much potential they showed. The expectation is the team will be without both Texas transfer Jordan Washington and Colorado State transfer Jaxxon Warren in this game, but you still have Ohio State transfer Jelani Thurman and true freshman Carson Sneed that have been working together since the first day of fall camp and should provide better run blocking than the group the team had a year ago. Thurman will also be a threat in the passing game after people around the program pointed to him being extremely reliable throughout the offseason. At receiver, Jordan Shipp is back after leading the Tar Heels in every major receiving category a year ago and he could be poised for an even bigger season with better quarterback play and an upgrade in talent around him. Lehigh transfer Mason Humphrey could be a guy that creates some big plays down the field for the team, while Wisconsin transfer Trech Kekahuna is looked at as an upgrade in the slot after the rotating door the team had there last season. There are some talented true freshmen that provide depth here and could make some plays as well throughout the season. There is better speed and athleticism at the skill positions than there was a year ago and that could lead to more explosive plays, which were sorely missed last season.

Defensively, the team will hope to build off the success that they had at times last season, but will have to do so without defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, who is away on medical leave. In the meantime, head coach Bill Belichick will take over the play calling duties defensively with the help of former defensive coordinator and current defensive line coach Bob Diaco. The team will be hoping that the promising pass rush from a year ago carries over into this season, led by Melkart Abou Jaoude, who became the first Tar Heel player to finish a season with double-digit sacks since 2013 a year ago. He’ll need some help opposite of him from Penn State transfer Jaylen Harvey who was praised for his explosiveness and quickness in camp but doesn’t have a lot of production to this point. If he can’t get it done, Richmond transfer Donovan Hoilette may get his shot after a productive season last year at the FCS level. In the middle, Leroy Jackson and Isaiah Johnson will need to play the bulk of the snaps after the losses of C.J. Mims and D’Antre Robinson to the transfer portal. If they can handle the added workload, this is a duo that can be trusted in the middle, primarily in the run game. Linebacker was a room that the team went out and added two new starters at and the staff seems pretty satisfied with where they are at heading into the opener. Peyton Seelmann was one of the most productive linebackers in all of college football a year ago at Richmond and concerns about his size and physicality have seemed to fade as the offseason has worn on. Syracuse transfer Derek McDonald has also generated some expectations for himself with the camp that he had to pair with his experience in the league. The defensive backfield is probably the biggest question mark heading into the season on this side of the ball, but there are some talented guys in the room here, as well. Cornerback Jaiden Patterson and safety Greg Smith are two key pieces that the team was able to keep this offseason and will take over full time roles after showing a ton of promise last season. Kaleb Cost is back in the nickel looking to take another step this year after a promising year in 2025. The real concerns are at the two remaining spots in the secondary. Tre Miller is expected to be the field corner for the team after being the best of the group that was vying for the position in camp, while Peyton Waters is slotted in as the starter at field safety after closing camp strong himself. There is potential for both guys, but don’t be shocked if TCU goes after them early and often to see if they can handle themselves.

On special teams, there is a lot of unknown because of how little the media got to see them in practices. The team brought back placekicker Rece Verhoff after a ruling Colorado made him eligible, but that ruling has since been overturned, meaning he won’t be able to play in this game. That leaves the job likely to LSU transfer Aeron Burrell, who will also handle kickoffs with a strong leg that has supposedly impressed the staff. At punter, Jacob Horvath and true freshman Adam McCann-Gibbs have been battling it out. We’re not sure of how this battle is playing out, but the expectation from many is that the experience of Horvath will win out here. The returners remain a mystery, as well, except for the fact that Kekahuna and true freshman speedster Jaden Jefferson were fielding punts at one practice. Either one could be an option on kick and punt return, while McGill could also factor in on the prior after handling those duties late last season.

TCU

The Horned Frogs will roll into Dublin off back-to-back nine win seasons and that seems like a pretty realistic expectation for Sonny Dykes and crew again this season.

There will be some significant changes offensively from the group that served the Tar Heels a beatdown in last year’s season opener. Gone are offensive coordinator Kendall Briles and Josh Hoover, as is the high-flying offensive system that was in place a year ago. In comes former UConn offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis, who had a better statistical offense a year ago, but moves the ball more methodically with the short passing game and running the football in a pro-style, wide zone scheme. He’ll rely on new quarterback Jaden Craig, who boasts a pretty successful track record at the FCS level with Harvard. While there is a lot of confidence in what he can be, there is no telling how he will function in the first game in a new offense against power conference competition. The TCU staff likes the group that he will be throwing the ball to, despite the loss of the conference leading receiver from a year ago in Eric McAlister. Jordan Dwyer, who lit the Tar Heels up in the opener last year, is back to lead the unit, while guys like South Alabama transfer Jeremy Scott, Ed Small and Dozie Ezukanma are names that the staff is hopeful about. At tight end, the team has to replace both D’Andre Rogers and Chase Curtis, so it will be up to Ka’Morreun Pimpton, Lafayette Kaiuway and “Freak’s List” honoree Kari Ashley to replace him. The running back room is in promising hands with Jeremy Payne, but they’ll be looking to be better than they were a year ago when they finished 14th in the Big 12 in rushing. That challenge is also the responsibility of the offensive line that the staff feels good about heading into the season despite some struggles over the last few seasons. The left side of the line is the strength with tackle Ben Taylor-Whitfield and Cade Bennett returning, while Oklahoma State transfer Noah McKinney and Florida International transfer Jaheim Buchanon will be relied on at the other two interior offensive line spots. Right tackle is likely to be in the hands of underclassman Witten Van Hoy and this could be the area that the Tar Heels defense tries to expose.

Defensively, coordinator Andy Avalos is back but will have the task of replacing some important pieces in the back seven of this unit. Linebacker is the biggest question mark heading into the season after both Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Namdi Obiazor departed after last season. Max Carroll is a holdover that is expected to hold down one of the starting jobs in his fourth year with the program, while Virginia Tech transfer and one time Tar Heel Michael Short looks destined for the other spot. In the secondary, All-Big 12 selection Jamel Johnson might just be the best returning defensive player in the conference after he registered 96 total tackles and pulled down five interceptions a year ago. Outside of him, though, there aren’t many proven quantities. There was some excitement about Louisiana Tech transfer Jacob Fields at the other safety spot, but he was dismissed from the team back on August 18th following an alleged assault of a team in the locker just days prior. With him gone, the team will have to rely on Jordan Lester, who did play some rotational snaps there a year ago behind the departed Bud Clark but was recruited over for a reason. At corner, there is some excitement about the possibilities of what Gil Jackson Jr. could be, while guys like Central Michigan transfer Kalen Carroll and Colorado transfer Teon Parks battle holdovers Vernon Glover Jr. and Julius Simms in the nickel for playing time. The strength of the unit is the defensive line despite the fact that the team did not rush the passer well last season. Markis Deal and Ansel Din-Mbuh will man the middle and look to stop the run as well as they did a year ago while Paul Oyewale and Zach Chapman hope to provide more consistent pressure and more sacks than they did a year ago.

On special teams, placekicker Kyle Lemmerman returns after injury limited him to just two games a year. The team went and added the most productive punter in the country from a year ago in Louisiana Tech transfer John Hoyet Chance, who will be a major weapon for them. Both returns are back in Major Everhart (kicks) and Dwyer (punts) and they’ll hope to be more dynamic than they were last year.

Team Stats (2025)

Tar Heels

Off. PPG: 19.3 (120th)

Off. PYPG: 183.5 (111th)

Off. RYPG: 105.3 (122nd)

Off. TYPG: 288.8 (131st)

Off. 3rd Down %: 36.9% (97th)

Off. 4th Down %: 73.3% (6th)

Off. Red Zone TD%: 51.4% (119th)

Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 67.0 (T-61st)

Sacks Allowed: 22.0 (T-54th)

Def. PPG: 24.5 (T-65th)

Def. PYPG: 211.3 (T-52nd)

Def. RYPG: 125.7 (35th)

Def. TYPG: 337.0 (38th)

Def. 3rd Down %: 42.4% (104th)

Def. 4th Down %: 75.0% (134th)

Def. Red Zone TD%: 52.3% (19th)

Tackles for A Loss: 63.0 (T-93rd)

Sacks: 32.0 (T-31st)

Interceptions: 6 (T-105th)

Turnover Margin: -3 (T-85th)

Penalties Per Game: 6.6 (T-87th)

Penalty Yards Per Game: 62.6 (111th)

TCU

Off. PPG: 30.7 (40th)

Off. PYPG: 290.1 (9th)

Off. RYPG: 131.4 (100th)

Off. TYPG: 421.5 (27th)

Off. 3rd Down %: 47.4% (15th)

Off. 4th Down %: 64.0% (T-23rd)

Off. Red Zone TD%: 60.3% (76th)

Tackles For A Loss Allowed: 72.0 (T-90th)

Sacks Allowed: 22.0 (T-54th)

Def. PPG: 25.3 (72nd)

Def. PYPG: 245.6 (T-116th)

Def. RYPG: 133.1 (43rd)

Def. TYPG: 378.7 (T-72nd)

Def. 3rd Down %: 38.9% (T-71st)

Def. 4th Down %: 53.3% (74th).

Def. Red Zone TD%: 56.8% (T-50th)

Tackles for A Loss: 67.0 (T-74th)

Sacks: 23.0 (T-85th)

Interceptions: 14 (T-22nd)

Turnover Margin: +1 (T-65th)

Penalties Per Game: 6.8 (T-95th)

Penalty Yards Per Game: 62.0 (109th)

Keys to the Game

-Win the Line of Scrimmage, Especially on Offense

-Take Care of the Football

-Limit Big Plays Defensively

Injury Report

Tar Heels

OUT- Jaxxon Warren (undisclosed)

DOUBT- Jordan Washington (undisclosed)

PROB- Eidan Buchanan (undisclosed)

TCU

OUT- Dozie Ezukanma (undisclosed)

DOUBT- Zach Chapman (undisclosed)

QUEST- Jordan Dwyer (foot)

Projected Starting Lineup

Tar Heels

Offense

QB# 9 Billy Edwards Jr., Gr.

RB# 7 Benjamin Hall, Jr.

WR-X# 4 Mason Humphrey, Sr.

WR-SL# 2 Trech Kekahuna, Jr.

WR-Z# 1 Jordan Shipp, Jr.

TE#45 Jelani Thurman, Jr.

LT#66 Jordan Hall, Jr.

LG#75 Andrew Threatt, Sr.

C#56 Christo Kelly, Gr.

RG#68 Aidan Banfield, Jr.

RT#71 Jacqawn McRoy, So.

Defense

RUSH# 9 Melkart Abou Jaoude, Sr.

NT# 0 Isaiah Johnson, Sr.

DT#91 Leroy Jackson, So.

JACK#11 Jaylen Harvey, So.

WLB#10 Peyton Seelmann, Jr.

MLB#15 Derek McDonald, Gr.

BCB#18 Jaiden Patterson, Jr.

BS# 1 Greg Smith, So.

FS# 7 Peyton Waters, So.

CB# 6 Tre Miller, Jr.

NB#21 Kaleb Cost, Jr.

Special Teams

PK#92 Aeron Burrell, Jr.

P#93 Jacob Horvath, Jr.

KOS#92 Aeron Burrell, Jr.

LS#48 Gannon Burt, Jr.

H#93 Jacob Horvath, Jr.

KR#27 Jaylen McGill, Fr.

PR# 2 Trech Kekahuna, Jr.

TCU

Offense

QB# 1 Jaden Craig, Gr.

RB#26 Jeremy Payne, Jr.

WR-X# 7 Jordan Dwyer, Sr.

WR-Z# 6 Jeremy Scott, So.

WR-SL#18 Ed Small, So.

TE#88 Ka’Morreun Pimpton, Jr.

LT#56 Ben Taylor-Whitfield, Sr.

LG#60 Cade Bennett, Gr.

C#59 Jaheim Buchanon, Jr.

RG#58 Noah McKinney, Sr.

RT#50 Witten Van Hoy, So.

Defense

DE#97 Paul Oyewale, Sr.

NT#95 Markis Deal, Jr.

DT#92 Ansel Din-Mbuh, Sr.

DE#16 Koron Hayward, Jr.

WLB# 3 Max Carroll, Jr.

MLB#11 Michael Short, Jr.

LCB# 4 Gil Jackson Jr., So.

SS# 2 Jamel Johnson, Sr.

FS#22 Jordan Lester, Jr.

RCB# 1 Vernon Glover Jr., Jr.

NB# 7 Julius Simms, So.

Special Teams

PK#34 Kyle Lemmerman, So.

P#48 John Hoyet Chance, So.

KOS#48 John Hoyet Chance, So.

LS#43 Will Terry, Fr.

H#97 Easton Black, Sr.

KR# 3 Major Everhart, Sr.

PR# 7 Jordan Dwyer, Sr.

Game Information

Kickoff Time: 12:00 PM EST/5:00 PM IST

Weather: 63°F, 40% chance of rain

TV: ESPN

Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network