North Carolina quarterback Ryan Browne and defensive lineman Beau Atkinson have entered the transfer portal, as reported by sources to ESPN. Atkinson, who led the Tar Heels with 7.5 sacks last season and accumulated 54 tackles during his two seasons at UNC, is seeking a new opportunity. Browne is also departing, with the Tar Heels reportedly pursuing South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez, who had an impressive redshirt freshman season with 2,559 passing yards and 25 touchdowns.
In addition to Browne and Atkinson, UNC offensive tackle Zach Rice, a former five-star recruit, has also entered the portal after playing in 20 games over the past three seasons. Other players in the portal include Zion Ferguson, Cade Law, and Crews Law. However, the Tar Heels secured linebacker Mikai Gbayor, who had 49 tackles for Nebraska last season and initially transferred to Missouri in December. These roster movements mark significant changes for North Carolina's football team as they navigate the transfer portal in search of talent.