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 ECU to Charlotte, programs are seeing major roster movement as players look for new homes ahead of the 2025 season.
Scores and scores of players from in-state programs entered the portal, and a growing number have announced commitments. We’re tracking the action (the best we can!) — from major exits to surprise pickups — as the spring portal 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.
🔽 Just want the names? 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 | Latest Updates
May 4 Update: Charlotte adds FCS all-conference running back
Charlotte football announced that Western Illinois transfer running back Cam Smith has signed with the 49ers. Smith earned all-Big South/OVC honors in 2024, rushing for 802 yards and seven touchdowns.
May 3 Updates: Barton defender E’Lla Boykin jumps to ACC; East Carolina boosts kicking game
Former Southern Wayne High standout E’Lla Boykin had a breakout 2024 season at Division II Barton College, collecting South Atlantic Conference Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honors. Boykin parlayed that standout year into a chance to play in the ACC. Read more about Boykin committing to Boston College HERE.
East Carolina added a punter and placekicker as the calendar rolled into May. The Pirates received commitments from Duke/Furman transfer Ryan Leavy (punter) and New Hampshire transfer Nick Mazzie (kicker). Leavy averaged 40.4 yards per punt in four years at Furman. Mazzie was 43-of-56 all-time on field goals (2022-24), making a 52-yarder a year ago against Harvard and booting four field goals against Monmouth.
April 23 Updates: Campbell transfer LB commits to Missouri State; UNC loses another top defender
Jalen Brooks, who led Campbell in tackles a season ago with 118, has committed to Missouri State for his final college season. Brooks played high school football at Cardinal Gibbons in Raleigh, then began his collegiate career at North Carolina before joining the Camels. Missouri State finished 8-4 last season in the ultra competitive FCS Missouri Valley Conference. The Bears will move up to FBS this season, joining Conference USA.
UNC’s defense took another hit Tuesday, with star linebacker Amare Campbell announcing for the portal. Campbell started all 12 games for the Heels in 2024, earning 72 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He entered the portal in December but opted to stay at UNC. Campbell participated in North Carolina’s spring practice, which wrapped up April 12, before jumping back into the portal.
pic.twitter.com/1Vc3uNHb7d — JalenBrooks 🔥🏈 (@JalenBBrooks) April 22, 2025
April 22: Wake Forest picks up 1,000-yard receiver, SEC tight end
Wake Forest added two skill players to its offense, wide receiver Karate Brenson (Tennessee State) and tight end Kamrean Johnson (Vanderbilt). Brenson (6-4 | 210) played the past three seasons for the FCS Tigers, amassing 130 catches for 1,669 yards and nine touchdowns. He hauled in 79 receptions for 1,088 yards last season, scoring 6 TDs for an FCS playoff team. Johnson brings imposing size (6-5 | 220) and special teams prowess. His lone catch a year ago went for a touchdown in Vandy’s upset win over Alabama.
April 21: Joey Aguilar makes six-month journey from App State to UCLA to Tennessee
Former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar left Boone in December for UCLA, thinking he would be the new starter for the Bruins in 2025. But UCLA entered the Nico Iamaleava sweepstakes last week and accepted a commitment from the former Tennessee quarterback over the weekend.
In a strange twist, Aguilar jumped back into the portal this weekend and landed at … Tennessee, in what effectively turned out to be a trade between the two players. It remains to be seen which school got the better end of the deal. Aguilar threw for more than 6,000 yards during his two seasons at App State…
A former Jacksonville High standout will make the jump from the CIAA to FBS. Noah Gibson, who played defensive back for Shaw the past two seasons, announced on social media he has committed to Coastal Carolina. Read more about Gibson’s jump to the Sun Belt Conference here.
Dylan Tucker, who had been a standout defensive back and team captain for Elon in 2024, has transferred to Utah State. Tucker is from Charlotte and played at Zebulon B. Vance High.
April 20: North Carolina’s transfer class ranked 11th by 247Sports
The recent additions of lineback Mikai Gbayor (Missouri), quarterback Gio Lopez (South Alabama) and wideout Adrian Wilson (Colorado) during the early days of the spring portal window has boosted North Carolina’s total transfer class to 24 commitments. 247Sports ranks the Heels’ transfer class 11th best in FBS entering this week – and third-best in the ACC behind Miami (5th) and Florida State (8th).
The next highest North Carolina FBS team in 247Sports’ transfer rankings is Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons also have 24 transfer commitments in the bank, including offensive lineman Ja’Marion Kennedy (Louisiana Tech), who joined the ranks over the weekend.
NC State’s transfer class is listed 60th by 247Sports, followed by Appalachian State 68th, Charlotte (85th), Duke (86th) and East Carolina 95th.
April 17: 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: 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 | INCOMING spring transfer commitments
Ja’Den McBurrows (CB): Michigan → Appalachian State
Joshua Acord (TE): Southern Utah → Appalachian State
Trent Ramsey (OT): California → Appalachian State
Emory Floyd (S): South Carolina → Appalachian State
Ian Ratliff (P): Marshall → Appalachian State
Rondarius Porter (DL): South Carolina → Appalachian State
Ronnie Porter (LB): South Carolina → Appalachian State
Cameron Fleming (S): Virginia Tech → Appalachian State
Ahmad Robinson (CB): Prairie View A&M → Appalachian State
Saint Farrior (DL): Hampton → Appalachian State
Dylan Manuel (OT): Charleston Southern → Appalachian State
Moritz Schmoranzer (OL): Pittsburgh → Appalachian State
Caleb Sandstrom (EDGE): St. Thomas → Appalachian State
Nehemiah Chandler (CB): Georgia Tech → Appalachian State
Izayah Cummings (TE): Louisville → Appalachian State
Malik Berry (EDGE): Pittsburg State → Appalachian State
Jamarrion Solomon (DL): FIU → Charlotte
Jariel Cobb (RB): North Carolina → Charlotte
Curtis Simpson (EDGE): North Carolina → Charlotte
Ta’ir Brooks (WR): UTEP → Charlotte
Desmond Jackson (OL): North Carolina → Charlotte
Caleb Irving (DT): Purdue → Charlotte
Yamil Talib (LB): Oklahoma State → Charlotte
Cheick Kaba (DT): Troy → Charlotte
Rod Green (OL): Purdue → Charlotte
Shay Taylor (LB): Ohio → Charlotte
Kadin Schmitz (LB): Ohio → Charlotte
Cameren Smith (RB): Western Illinois → Charlotte
Javen Nicholas (WR): LSU → Charlotte
Jesse Ramil (OL): Mississippi State/James Madison → Charlotte
Xavier Miles (DT): Syracuse → Charlotte
Kristos Fernandez (OL): Long Island → Charlotte
Liam Boyd (K): North Carolina → Charlotte
Taz Williams (DL): Utah State → Charlotte
Jordan Larsen (OL): South Dakota → Duke
Landen King (TE): Utah → Duke
Ian Hemilright (OL): Campbell → East Carolina
Mike Wright (QB): Northwestern → East Carolina
Jack Hestera (WR): Utah State → East Carolina
Dru McClough (OL): Presbyterian → East Carolina
LaDarian Paulk (S): West Florida → East Carolina
Jonathan Jean (S): Rice → East Carolina
Nick Mazzie (PK): New Hampshire → East Carolina
Ryan Leavy (P): Duke → East Carolina
Rasheed Reason (CB): Old Dominion → East Carolina
Ian Flynt (TE): Nebraska → NC State
Bailey Benson (LB): Wake Forest → NC State
Joseph Adedire (EDGE): Texas Tech → NC State
Brian Nelson (CB): North Texas → NC State
Kenny Soares Jr. (LB): Northwestern → NC State
Sabastian Harsh (EDGE): Wyoming → NC State
Cian Slone (EDGE): Utah State → NC State
Jordan Owens (TE): Oklahoma State → North Carolina
Timir Hickman-Collins (LB): Florida State → North Carolina
Andrew Simpson (LB): From Boise State
Gregory Smith III (S): Florida → North Carolina
Shamar Easter (TE): Arkansas → North Carolina
Jonathan Agumadu (LB): Oklahoma State → North Carolina
Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins (S): UCLA → North Carolina
Jakai Moore (OL): South Carolina → North Carolina
Isaiah Johnson (DL): Arizona → North Carolina
Will O’Steen (OT): Jacksonville State → North Carolina
Gannon Burt (LS): Florida → North Carolina
Jordan Hall (OT): UAB to North Carolina
Joseph Mupoyi (EDGE): Penn State → North Carolina
D’Antre Robinson (DL): Florida → North Carolina
Dayton Sneed (WR): Tennessee → North Carolina
Mikai Gbayor (LB): Missouri → North Carolina
Benjamin Hall (RB): Michigan → North Carolina
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
Alec Marenco (LB): Kansas State → Wake Forest
Eni Falayi (TE): Utah Tech → Wake Forest
Eli Gilmour (LS): Nevada → Wake Forest
Lardarius Webb Jr. (CB): South Alabama → Wake Forest
Braylon Johnson (S): Virginia Tech → Wake Forest
JaMario Clements (RB): Duquesne → Wake Forest
Brandon Smiley (DL): Elon → Wake Forest
Kamrean Johnson (TE): Vanderbilt → Wake Forest
Karate Brenson (WR): Tennessee State → Wake Forest
Connor Calvert (K): Washington State → Wake Forest
Ja’Marion Kennedy (OL): Louisiana Tech → Wake Forest
Harry Lodge (TE): Georgia Tech → Wake Forest
North Carolina FBS | OUTGOING spring transfer commitments
Anthony Rosier (LB): Appalachian State → Florida A&M
Kai Fernandes (S): Appalachian State → Incarnate Word
Ryan McKinnis (LB): Appalachian State → Western Carolina
Max Drag (TE): Appalachian State → UCF
Avarion Cole (S): Appalachian State → Western Kentucky
Andres Dewerk (OL): Appalachian State → Ohio
Cahari Haynes (LB): Appalachian State → Gardner-Webb
Blake Bradford (OL): Appalachian State → Gardner-Webb
Jackson Bussey (EDGE): Appalachian State → Georgia Southern
Jason Hertz (DL): Appalachian State → Charleston Southern
Franklin Baret (WR): Appalachian State → Jacksonville State
Josiah Wyatt (DL): Appalachian State → Charleston Southern
Trey Lenhardt (S): Appalachian State → Georgia Southern
JT Sowell (IOL): Appalachian State → Richmond
Derrell Farrar (LB): Appalachian State → Liberty
Nick Taylor (CB): Appalachian State → West Virginia
Markell Samuel (OT): Appalachian State → Oklahoma State
Elijah Culp (CB): Charlotte → James Madison
Colin Coates (DL): Charlotte → Mississippi State
Kainoa Davis (DT): Charlotte → San Diego State
Jordan Herman (OT): Charlotte → Sacramento State
Zachary Franks (OL): Duke → UMass
Marquise Collins (RB): Duke → UAB
Ryan Leavy (P): Duke → East Carolina
James Pogoreic (OT): Duke → James Madison
Kameron Durant (OL): East Carolina → Campbell
Keyshawn Jackson (CB): East Carolina → Chattanooga
Dontavius Nash (CB): East Carolina → Michigan State
Eric Fletcher (CB): East Carolina → Oklahoma State
Patrick Matan (OT): NC State → Montana
Kendrick Raphael (RB): NC State → California
Dacari Collins (WR): NC State → Louisville
Kamal Bonner (LB): NC State → Miami
Julien Randolph (TE): North Carolina → Austin Peay
Jariel Cobb (RB): North Carolina → Charlotte
Gavin Blackwell (WR): North Carolina → Florida State
Michael Short (LB): North Carolina → Virginia Tech
Tyrane Stewart (CB): North Carolina → North Texas
Amare Campbell (LB): North Carolina → Penn State
Adam Samaha (K): North Carolina → Akron
Rodney Lora (DL): North Carolina → UCF
Curtis Simpson (EDGE): North Carolina → Charlotte
Ryan Ward (TE): North Carolina → West Virginia
Jaffer Murphy (K): North Carolina → UTSA
Grant Mills (LS): North Carolina → Ohio State
Joel Starlings (DL): North Carolina → Maryland
Desmond Jackson (OL): North Carolina → Charlotte
Zach Rice (OL): North Carolina → Syracuse
Crews Law (LB): North Carolina → Memphis
Cade Law (LB): North Carolina → Memphis
Liam Boyd (K): North Carolina → Charlotte
Lucas Osada (K): North Carolina → Illinois
Beau Atkinson (EDGE): North Carolina → Ohio State
Zion Ferguson (CB): North Carolina → Pittsburgh
Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala (DL): North Carolina → Vanderbilt
Ryan Browne (QB): North Carolina → Purdue
Christian Hamilton (WR): North Carolina → West Virginia
DeAndre Boykins (S): North Carolina → Oklahoma State
AJ Hasson (OL): Wake Forest → UC Davis
Andrew Hines III (LB): Wake Forest → Bowling Green
Trishstin Glass (WR): Wake Forest → Coastal Carolina
Bailey Benson (LB): Wake Forest → NC State
Ameir Glenn (DL): Wake Forest → Louisville
Jeremy Hecklinski (QB): Wake Forest → Iowa
Chris Marable (DL): Wake Forest → Boston College
North Carolina FBS | ENTERING spring transfer portal window
Michael Dipasquale (RB): Appalachian State →
Blake Hoban (WR): Appalachian State →
Dylan Barbrey (OT): Appalachian State →
Cameron Estep (QB): Appalachian State →
Brodrick Gooch (ATH): Appalachian State →
Garrison Butler (DL): Appalachian State →
Avarion Cole (S): Appalachian State →
Jake Simmons (RB): Charlotte →
Xander Lamb (WR): Charlotte →
Al-Ma’hi Ali (S): Charlotte →
Colin Coates (DL): Charlotte →
Dre Martin (DL): Charlotte →
Montez Green (WR): Charlotte →
Placide Djungu-Sungu (S): Duke →
Quran Boyd (RB): Duke →
Spencer Jones (WR): Duke →
Ajani Farmer (EDGE): East Carolina →
Javion Clark (S): East Carolina →
Shaikh Thompson (EDGE): East Carolina →
Zack Boehly (OT): East Carolina →
McCallum Wright (WR): East Carolina →
Jake Garcia (QB): East Carolina →
Michael Hall (WR): North Carolina →
Evan Haynes (WR): North Carolina →
Jason Smith (OL): North Carolina →
Miles Gaddy (S): North Carolina →
Hayes Galloway (OL): North Carolina →
DJ Mazzone (QB): North Carolina →
Hudson Wilharm (ATH): North Carolina →
Mali Hamrick (DE): North Carolina →
Grady Sherrill (WR): North Carolina →
CJ Murphy (LB): North Carolina →
Andres Miyares (ATH): North Carolina →
Jacob Dennison (OL): Wake Forest →
Jaydn Girard (WR): Wake Forest →
Sam Neely (CB): Wake Forest →
Tyler Black (K): Wake Forest →
Tayshaun Burney (CB): Wake Forest →
North Carolina FCS/D2 | Spring transfer portal movement
Malik Simmons (TE): Lenoir Rhyne → Mercer
Ian Hemilright (OL): Campbell → East Carolina
Kameron Durant (OL): East Carolina → Campbell
Jordan Jackson (CB): West Virginia → Gardner-Webb
Carlos Moore Jr. (OT): Elon → Maryland
Ryan McKinnis (LB): Appalachian State → Western Carolina
Beau Blankenship (TE): Ohio → Gardner-Webb
Adam Hickerson (OL): Gardner-Webb →
Jose Gonzalez (OT): Fort Valley State → Gardner-Webb
Jacobi Jones (LB): Georgia State → Campbell
Andrew Hancock (OL): Marshall → Elon
Marquis Black (DL): Gardner-Webb → Connecticut
E’Lla Boykin (LB/EDGE): Barton → Boston College
Cahari Haynes (LB): Appalachian State → Gardner-Webb
Blake Bradford (OL): Appalachian State → Gardner-Webb
Christos Tzoumakas (P/K): Colby College → Davidson
Treaden Henry (OT): Marshall → Campbell
Jackson Banks (DT): Old Dominion → Western Carolina
Jonathan Palmer (QB): Gardner-Webb → Tennessee State
Kory Jones (WR): Limestone → Gardner-Webb
Malik Simmons (TE): Lenoir-Rhyne → Mercer
George Wilson (EDGE): Campbell → South Carolina
Brandon Smiley (DL): Elon → Wake Forest
Jalen Brooks (LB): Campbell → Missouri State
Lukas Kachilo (QB): Gardner-Webb → Mars Hill
Noah Gibson (CB): Shaw → Coastal Carolina
Dylan Tucker (DB): Elon → Utah StateDaniel Lopes (WR): Villanova → Campbell
Ravel Cato (S): Reedley College → Campbell
Sincere Brown (WR): Campbell → Colorado
Kalen Villanueva (LB): Connecticut → Campbell
Nasir Winston (DB): Barton →
Darius Headley (RB): North Carolina A&T →
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
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.
