Bill Belichick, North Carolina Get Good Transfer Portal News On Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated May 25, 2025 10:25 PM ET

North Carolina’s offseason featured a Hall of Fame NFL coach swapping Foxborough for Chapel Hill, a roster reset via the transfer portal, and renewed expectations after a disappointing 2024 college football season.

In the midst of that whirlwind, word quietly surfaced on Sunday that Purdue transfer wideout Nathan Leacock is headed home to North Carolina, joining Bill Belichick’s first-year rebuild in the ACC, per On3's Pete Nakos.

Leacock entered the transfer portal in December, spent the winter window at Purdue and now has opted to come back to North Carolina, where he starred at Millbrook High School (82 catches, 1,703 yards, 23 touchdowns as a senior).

BREAKING: Purdue transfer WR Nathan Leacock has committed to North Carolina, @PeteNakos_ reportshttps://t.co/6R3acN5ecb pic.twitter.com/NXc8seRyzy
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) May 26, 2025

Leacock, a 6-foot-3, 217-pound redshirt sophomore, began his college career at Tennessee as a four-star recruit (No. 12 at his position, No. 75 overall in 2023 by On3) before modest playing time in Knoxville.

Leacock will have three seasons of eligibility remaining in Chapel Hill, adding depth and size to an UNC receiver corps already bolstered by three other portal additions.

When Belichick was officially introduced as the head coach of the Tar Heels in December 2024, it marked his first foray into collegiate coaching after nearly five decades in the NFL.

As head coach of the New England Patriots, Belichick recorded a historic 266-121 regular-season mark and six Super Bowl titles, the most in league history.

The Tar Heels went 6-6 in the regular season, secured bowl eligibility, yet suffered a 27-14 loss to UConn in the Fenway Bowl to close out at 6-7.

That mediocrity prompted a coaching change and a wholesale roster shakeup; to date, Belichick has added 26 transfers.

North Carolina opens its Belichick era on September 1 at home against TCU.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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