The transfer portal has only been open for three days, and already there’s plenty of buzz across multiple North Carolina programs. UNC nabbed a veteran quarterback with Big Ten experience. NC State got a commitment from an all-conference receiver from Buffalo. And former Elon quarterback Landen Clark is being compared to a Heisman finalist as his portal stock rises.
More details below, plus other transfer portal notables as of early evening Jan. 4.
For full, continuously updated lists of outgoing and incoming players, visit our statewide transfer portal trackers:
🔗 North Carolina FBS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 North Carolina FCS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 North Carolina D2 Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 Tiered NC Transfer Portal Rankings and ACC Transfer Portal Coverage (from NC Sports Network)
UNC, Belichick land former Big Ten starting QB
Former Wisconsin and Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards will spend his last year of eligibility playing for Bill Belichick at UNC. Things moved quickly, with Edwards visiting and committing to the Heels over the weekend.
Edwards (6-3, 228) started for Maryland in 2024, throwing for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns, with nine interceptions. He also had five rushing scores.
Edwards began 2025 as Wisconsin’s starter but shut his season down due to a PCL injury. His career stat line over 28 games played: 318-of-512 passing, 3,435 yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs, 13 rushing TDs. Edwards started his college career at Wake Forest before transferring to Maryland.
Former Elon QB getting Power 4 interest
Quarterback Landen Clark had a breakout season at Elon in 2025, being named a Jerry Rice Award finalist while earning CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and Phil Steele Freshman All-America recognition.
Clark has attracted attention from multiple FBS programs since jumping into the portal. Michigan State has offered, per his social media. Clark has visits set up with Kentucky, LSU, James Madison and North Texas.
Pro Football Network published a story just as the portal was opening Jan. 2 comparing Clark’s college career arc to Cam Ward, who went from FCS Incarnate Word to becoming a Heisman finalist at Miami.
“What stands out on film is Clark’s ability to extend plays without abandoning his progressions,” PFN writer Oliver Hodgkinson wrote. “He’s not a scrambler who happens to throw; he’s a passer who can hurt defenses with his legs when the pocket breaks down … Clark didn’t inherit a loaded roster at Elon. He won a quarterback competition against Iowa transfer Marco Lainez, then led a Phoenix team that finished 6-6 through a full CAA schedule.”
Michigan State has extended an offer to All-American Elon QB Landen Clark 🟢⚪️
▪️ 2,321 passing yards, 18 TDs
▪️ 614 rushing yards, 11 TDs
▪️ Proven dual-threat with college starting experience(VIP)https://t.co/LPgoYorPum pic.twitter.com/txiX1hncZa— Corey Robinson (@C_Robinson247) January 3, 2026
NC State’s first portal commit fills need at WR
NC State has four wide receivers in the portal from the 2025 roster, including standouts Noah Rogers and Terrell Anderson. The Wolfpack has worked quickly to fill one of the open spots, getting a commitment from All-MAC wideout Victor Snow from Buffalo.
Snow caught 62 balls for 815 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. He finished with 1,057 all-purpose yards and 11 total TDs, including one punt-return score.
Committed 🤘🏾🐺 #nothingwasgiven @StateCoachD @CoachMangas @CoachLStewart1 @_5tres @CoachGoebbel @jokerphillips @PackFootball pic.twitter.com/bLiunkzhB8 — Victor Snow (@victorsn0w) January 4, 2026
Duke loses veteran backup QB to portal
Duke got great news about its quarterback situation before the Sun Bowl last week – starter Darian Mensah announced he was staying in Durham in 2026 to help the Blue Devils defend their ACC championship.
A solid backup quarterback, though, has entered the transfer portal. Henry Belin IV spent four seasons with the program, appearing in 14 games and starting two. Belin completed 46-of-82 passes for 540 yards and five TDs.
Duke has 12 total players in the portal but has already received three commits from incoming transfers: former Louisville tight end Nate Kurisky and cornerbacks Kyon Loud (Montana) and Dylan Flowers (Western Kentucky).
Former Grimsley QB Alonza Barnett III will join Big XII program
After leading James Madison to the 2025 College Football Playoff, former Grimsley High quarterback Alonza Barnett III will transfer to a Power Four conference. Barnett announced his commitment to UCF. He threw for 2,806 yards and 23 TDs for JMU this past season.
Thank you God! From Florida, With Love. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/IHucqnaucg — Alonza Barnett III™️ (@alonzabiii) January 4, 2026
Mars Hill RB standout Jon Gullette signs with Campbell
Jon Gullette entered the portal in November after completing the 2025 Division II season with Mars Hill. He joined Campbell’s 2025 signing day class right before Christmas.
Gullette accounted for more than 3,200 all-purpose yards during three seasons at Mars Hill, including more than 2,300 on the ground.
Division II players operate on a different portal schedule than NCAA Division I. D2 players can notify their school with an intention to transfer anytime between season’s end and June 15.
FBS running back commits to Livingstone
Running back Phoenix Moss (Sharpsburg, GA), who spent the past two seasons at Georgia State from the FBS Sun Belt Conference, has committed to Livingstone, a D2 in the CIAA.
Moss did not see the field in 2025 and appeared in three games as a freshman in 2024 with two carries. Moss rushed for 1,198 yards and 13 touchdowns as a prep senior at Trinity Christian in Georgia.
More transfer portal notes and numbers
- Unlike past years when there were multiple transfer windows, there will only be one for NCAA Division I players in the 2025-26 cycle. The lone window opened Friday, Jan. 2 and will close on Jan. 16, meaning the next few weeks will see a flurry of activity of players coming and going.
- Players don’t have to commit during the Jan. 2-16 period. But many will try to do so, giving them a chance to be on campus at their new school in time for the spring semester and spring football.
- More than 3,700 Division I scholarship players entered the portal on the first day it was open, Jan. 2, per reporting.
- More than 4,500 players had entered the portal by Sunday, Jan. 4, per multiple outlets.
- Appalachian State has 34 players in the portal as of Sunday evening, per 247Sports reporting, the most among North Carolina FBS schools. This number includes all three quarterbacks who started games this season.
- Duke has the fewest outgoing transfers among NC programs: 12, per 247Sports.
More Transfer Portal Content
🔗 He’s Back! CJ Bailey Will Return to NC State for 2026
🔗 North Carolina FBS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 North Carolina FCS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 North Carolina D2 Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 Tiered NC Transfer Portal Rankings and ACC Transfer Portal Coverage (from NC Sports Network)
