The spring college football transfer portal window opened Wednesday, April 16 — and it didn’t take long for the activity to heat up across North Carolina. From UNC to App State, from Campbell to Charlotte, programs are seeing major roster movement as players look for new homes ahead of the 2025 season.
More than 30 players from in-state programs have already entered the portal, and a growing number have announced commitments. We’re tracking the action day-by-day — from major exits to surprise pickups — as the 10-day spring window unfolds.
📌 Bookmark this post. We’re updating it frequently with new names, commitments and key storylines as they develop. Whether you’re a fan, coach or player, this is your source for tracking spring transfer portal activity from North Carolina’s college football landscape.
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🔽 Click [HERE] to jump straight to the full list of portal entries and commitments from FBS, FCS and beyond — all the moves we’ve tracked so far this spring.
Spring Transfer Portal | April 17 Highlights
UNC grabs potential starting quarterback
Gio, not Nico, appears in line to be QB1 for the Tar Heels this fall. While some speculation had controversial Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava landing in Chapel Hill after his messy breakup with the Vols, that vibe faded by late Wednesday. Instead, new coach Bill Belichick and UNC nabbed rising star Gio Lopez from South Alabama on Thursday.
Lopez had a breakout year for the Jaguars as a redshirt freshman in 2024. He reportedly received an NIL deal worth $4 million over two years to join the Tar Heels, according to ESPN.
Lopez will give North Carolina a dual-threat option under center. He threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns over 11 games for South Alabama a year ago (completing 66 percent of his passes). He also rushed for 465 yards and seven touchdowns, helping the Jags to a 7-6 campaign in the Sun Belt Conference (including a convincing 48-14 win over App State).
The addition of Lopez leaves UNC with three intriguing options at quarterback heading into the fall. He’ll join Max Johnson, who has 23 college starts to his credit but also is coming off a serious injury, and incoming freshman Bryce Baker in the battle to lead the Heels.
Per Inside Carolina, Lopez told the Madison Record: “I didn’t enter the portal to not be a starter.”
Lopez was the headliner to a busy day for UNC in the portal. The Tar Heels also picked up wide receiver Adrian Wilson from Colorado, punter Jacob Harvath from Eastern Illinois and kicker Rece Verhoff from Marshall.
In an interesting twist, quarterback Ryan Browne transferred from Purdue to UNC over the winter. But he’s back in the portal after going through spring ball in Chapel Hill and announced plans to take a visit to Purdue this week.
April 16 Highlights: Portal opens with plenty of fireworks
UNC loses top edge rusher, picks up elite linebacker transfer
Defensive end Beau Atkinson, who led North Carolina in sacks a year ago (7.5), announced his plans to enter the portal Tuesday. Atkinson (6-6 | 265) spent three seasons at UNC and played in 26 games. His career stats include 16.5 TFLs and 11 sacks. He has two years of eligibility left.
That news was offset somewhat by news that former Nebraska and Missouri linebacker Mikai Gbayor was joining the Tar Heels. Gbayor is considered one of the top linebackers in the portal. He earned 49 tackles and three pass breakups in 2024.
BREAKING: Missouri Transfer LB Mikai Gbayor has Committed to North Carolina, he tells @on3sports
The 6’2 230 LB totaled 73 Tackles, 9 TFL, 3 PD, & 1.5 Sacks (2 seasons)
Transferred from Nebraska to Missouri in December
2 years of eligibility lefthttps://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/nUdi1lMsrF — Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 16, 2025
Will Bill Belichick, North Carolina target a spring portal quarterback?
The ugly breakup between Tennessee and starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava turned the college football world upside down last weekend. North Carolina was mentioned for a time as a possible landing spot for Iamaleava, who reportedly wanted to re-negotiate his NIL contract upwards to the $4 million level and was rebuffed by the Vols.
247Sports listed a “Crystal Ball” prediction sending Iamaleava to the Tar Heels, but news emerged late Wednesday that the star QB was likely headed to UCLA in his home state.
North Carolina still may grab a quarterback. It’s looking more likely that the Tar Heels will pursue recent portal entrant Gio Lopez from South Alabama. Lopez threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2024 as a redshirt freshman with the Panthers. He also rushed for seven scores and 465 yards.
QB carousel could impact former App State signal caller
Iamaleava landing in UCLA could have big implications for Joey Aguilar, who transferred to the Bruins in the off-season after playing two years at Appalachian State. Aguilar was the 2023 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and earned honorable mention all-conference in 2024.
“Reps for current UCLA QB Joey Aguilar, who transferred from App State in offseason, have been making calls to other schools to gauge interest,” On3 wrote in a transfer portal story Wednesday. “Prior to Appalachian State, Joey Aguilar played two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College. Because JUCO seasons no longer count against NCAA eligibility, he can play two more seasons at the DI level.”
Defensive exodus from Appalachian State
As of mid-afternoon April 16, Appalachian State had 13 players announce for the spring portal. One has already found a new home: offensive lineman Markell Samuel, who has committed to Oklahoma State. Samuel, from Fayetteville, played at E.E. Smith High.
Nine players in the portal from ASU play on the defensive side of the ball, including four linebackers. Safety Avarion Cole made 29 tackles a year ago, including a sack and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. Linebacker Cahari Haynes had 14 stops.
App State has added one defensive player to the roster in edge rusher Malik Berry, who will join the Mountaineers from Pittsburg State. Berry made 24 tackles last season, including two sacks and 3.5 tackles-for-loss, for the D2 program.
Former Campbell wideout Sincere Brown commits to Coach Prime
Sincere Brown proved one of the most electric FCS players in North Carolina a year ago. The talented wide receiver, who earned all-CAA honors after recording more than 1,000 receiving yards, landed an FBS opportunity. He’ll join Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes for the upcoming season. Colorado plays in the Big 12.
It’s up noww😎…..Committed ⭐️🖤 @DeionSanders We Coming🦬 pic.twitter.com/2T1G6cgz67 — Sincere Brown (@SincereB8) April 13, 2025
Camels add two transfers on portal’s first day
Campbell picked up an FBS transfer for its linebacker corps. Kalen Villaneuva will join the Camels from Connecticut. He appeared in 13 games for the Huskies a year ago, making a pair of tackles.
Campbell also announced the addition of kicker/punter Lucas Wynn from Benedict College.
Former Catawba RB on the move again
After a monster season at Catawba in 2024, running back LJ Turner jumped into the portal last December. He committed to West Virginia but has decided to transfer again after spring ball with the Mountaineers.
Turner rushed for 1,224 yards and 13 TDs across eight games for the Indians. He averaged 7.0 yards per carry and collected all-conference, all-region and all-American honors. His 329-yard, five-touchdown effort against Anderson last September was the most prolific single-game outburst by a North Carolina collegiate back in 2024.
NC State RB Kendrick Raphael leaving the Pack
The third-leading rusher for NC State in 2024 has decided to transfer. Running back Kendrick Raphael rushed for 425 yards and three touchdowns a season ago, after picking up 309 yards and one TD in 2023. He averaged 5.4 yards per attempt in ‘24.
North Carolina FBS spring transfer portal commitments
Gio Lopez (QB): South Alabama → North Carolina
Adrian Wilson (WR): Colorado → North Carolina
Jacob Harvath (P): Eastern Illinois → North Carolina
Rece Verhoff (K): Marshall → North Carolina
Kenny Soares Jr. (LB): Northwestern → NC State
Sabastian Harsh (EDGE): Wyoming → NC State
Cian Slone (EDGE): Utah State → NC State
Mikai Gbayor (LB): Missouri → North Carolina
Markell Samuel (OT): Appalachian State → Oklahoma State
Malik Berry (EDGE): Pittsburg State → Appalachian State
North Carolina spring FBS transfer portal entries
Jacob Dennison (OT): Wake Forest →
Blake Bradford (OL): Appalachian State →
Bryson Harrison (QB): East Carolina →
Blake Hoban (WR): Appalachian State →
Adam Samaha (K): North Carolina →
Joel Starlins (DL): North Carolina →
Keyshawn Jackson (CB): East Carolina →
DJ Mazzone (QB): North Carolina →
Montez Green (WR): Charlotte →
Kainoa Davis (DT): Charlotte →
Jason Hertz (DL): Appalachian State →
Dylan Barbrey (OT): Appalachian State →
Cameron Estep (QB): Appalachian State →
Julien Randolph (TE): North Carolina →
Ameir Glenn (DL): Wake Forest →
Zachary Franks (OL): Duke →
Ryan Browne (QB): North Carolina →
Gavin Blackwell (WR): North Carolina →
Christian Hamilton (WR): North Carolina →
Andres Miyares (ATH): North Carolina →
Jaffer Murphy (K): North Carolina →
Lucas Osada (K): North Carolina →
Hudson Wilharm (ATH): North Carolina →
Cade Law (LB): North Carolina →
Crews Law (LB): North Carolina →
Mali Hamrick (DE): North Carolina →
Andres Dewerk (OL): Appalachian State →
Nick Taylor (CB): Appalachian State →
Brodrick Gooch (ATH): Appalachian State →
Jackson Bussey (EDGE): Appalachian State →
Zach Rice (OL): North Carolina →
Franklin Baret (WR): Appalachian State →
Ryan McKinnis (LB): Appalachian State →
Garrison Butler (DL): Appalachian State →
Anthony Rosier (LB): Appalachian State →
Xander Lamb (WR): Charlotte →
Avarion Cole (S): Appalachian State →
Cahari Haynes (LB): Appalachian State →
Trey Lenhardt (S): Appalachian State →
Derrell Farrar (LB): Appalachian State →
JT Sowell (IOL): Appalachian State →
Kendrick Raphael (RB): NC State →
Jaydn Girard (WR): Wake Forest →
Grady Sherrill (WR): North Carolina →
Bailey Benson (LB): Wake Forest →
Sam Neely (CB): Wake Forest →
Jeremy Hecklinski (QB): Wake Forest →
CJ Murphy (LB): North Carolina →
Tyler Black (K): Wake Forest →
Andrew Hines III (LB): Wake Forest →
Trishstin Glass (WR): Wake Forest →
Al-Ma’hi Ali (S): Charlotte →
Chris Marable (DL): Wake Forest →
Colin Coates (DL): Charlotte →
Zion Ferguson (CB): North Carolina →
Jake Garcia (QB): East Carolina →
Beau Atkinson (EDGE): North Carolina →
Dre Martin (DL): Charlotte →
Dacari Collins (WR): NC State →
Tayshaun Burney (CB): Wake Forest →
North Carolina FCS spring transfer portal movement
Daniel Lopes (WR): Villanova → Campbell
Ravel Cato (S): Reedley College → Campbell
Sincere Brown (WR): Campbell → Colorado
Kalen Villanueva (LB): Connecticut → Campbell
Johnathan Palmer (QB): Gardner-Webb →
Drew Levy (P): Campbell →
Allen Mitchell (RB): Campbell →
Miles Campbell (TE): North Carolina Central →
Seven Warren (OL): North Carolina Central →
Cornelius Davis Jr. (S): Campbell →
Tanner Staton (QB): Elon →
Adam Hickerson (OL): Gardner-Webb →
Anthony Enechukwu (S): Gardner-Webb → Jackson State
Jonathan Palmer (QB): Gardner-Webb →
Lukas Kachilo (QB): Gardner-Webb →
For a more thorough list of players coming from and going to North Carolina’s FCS programs via the transfer portal, including winter commitments, visit our FCS Transfer Tracker.
