The transfer portal window officially closed earlier this month, but that doesn’t mean that teams still can’t add to their rosters. Mack Brown pointed to a few positions that the team needs to fill in this window in the middle of spring camp and while they have filled a couple of those, there are still areas this team could use some added depth in. Here’s a look at some names that we think the staff should be taking a look at.
Monroe Beard III LB/Tennessee State
The Tar Heels could use another experienced option in their linebacker room as they look for rotational depth at the position. Beard III is one of the best linebackers available in the portal and is coming off a career year where he had 95 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and an interception. Beard III might be looking to go somewhere where he could be guaranteed a starting job, but right now there isn’t a team that seems to be pushing hard to do that. I know this is a bit of a risk because he is coming up from the FCS level, but his production is enough to make him a good fit to help this room.
Chance Black RB/Virginia Tech
Mack Brown said after the spring game that he was happy where things stood in the backfield after the spring game, but this would be a move that would aid special teams while aiding the backfield. With just 48 carries for 141 yards in his three seasons at Virginia Tech, he isn’t exactly a threat to those that would be in front of him on the depth chart, but he would bring at least a little bit of ACC experience with him. More importantly, he has experience returning kicks, an area the team may need some help in this season after all the departures this offseason. He handled the duties for the Hokies in both 2021 and 2022, averaging 20.6 yards on his 21 returns.
Blake Ochsendorf P/Louisiana Tech
With just one punter on the roster, the team is in search of an additional body here and it should be someone who is capable of pushing Tom Maginness, who struggled after he took over for Ben Kiernan last season. Ochsendorf was simply outstanding last year, averaging 45.7 yards per punt on his 53 punts, but that was his lone season of production in his four years at the college level. Still, with what he did last season, he is worth taking a chance on.
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