The 2025 spring transfer window has brought a wave of new talent to the University of North Carolina (UNC) football team. As the transfer portal closed on April 25, several notable players committed to joining the Tar Heels for the upcoming season.
This influx of talent includes athletes from a variety of big-name programs, each bringing their own skills and stories to Chapel Hill. If you want a full list of arrivals, check out the UNC Football 2025 Spring Transfer Portal Window Tracker.
New Additions to the Tar Heels
UNC has picked up commitments from several standout players. Each one comes in with a different background and a lot of promise.
These new faces are expected to strengthen the team in key spots. It’s a pretty interesting bunch.
Leacock: A Homecoming to North Carolina
Leacock, a North Carolina native, heads back home after stops at Tennessee and Purdue. He redshirted in 2023 and didn’t see much action in 2024.
After spring practice at Purdue, he decided to transfer again. Now he lands at UNC with three years of eligibility left and, honestly, a lot to prove.
Simpson: Defensive Powerhouse from Boise State
Simpson arrives from Boise State and should give UNC’s defense a real jolt. He earned second team All-Mountain West and third team All-America honors as a sophomore in 2023.
He racked up 66 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks that year. After another solid season in 2024, he brings a ton of experience and one year of eligibility.
Hickman-Collins: Fresh Talent from Florida State
Hickman-Collins, ranked as the No. 31 linebacker in the 2024 recruiting class by ESPN, joins after redshirting at Florida State. He’s got four years left and a lot of upside for UNC’s defense.
Owens: Productive Receiver from Central Arkansas
Owens comes in after a productive run at Central Arkansas and a quick stop at Oklahoma State. He’s got a nose for the end zone—seven touchdowns on just 29 career catches.
He’ll have three years of eligibility with the Tar Heels. That’s a lot of time to make an impact.
Agumadu: Promising Linebacker from Oklahoma State
Agumadu, ranked No. 62 among linebacker prospects by ESPN, joins with four years to play. He redshirted at Oklahoma State and now gets a shot in Chapel Hill.
Easter: Top Talent from Arkansas
Easter, the consensus No. 1 player in his class from Arkansas, heads to UNC with three years of eligibility. He didn’t see much action at Arkansas, but there’s real buzz about his potential.
Smith: Defensive Asset from Florida
Smith played in five games during his true freshman year at Florida and brings four years of eligibility. He got key snaps in the season finale and the bowl game, so he’s not coming in cold.
Dunbar-Hawkins: California Prospect with Family Ties
Dunbar-Hawkins, ranked No. 26 in California by Rivals, arrives after a season at UCLA. He’s got four years left and a family connection to UNC’s defensive backs coach, which can’t hurt his transition.
Veterans and Specialists Joining UNC
UNC has also brought in some experienced players and specialists. It’s a good mix—youth meets experience.
Moore: Veteran Offensive Lineman
Moore is entering his seventh year of college football and brings a ton of experience to the offensive line. He started 28 of 44 games at South Carolina, so he knows what he’s doing.
Burt: Reliable Long Snapper from Florida
Burt, named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team, joins with three years of eligibility. He played 15 snaps in two games at Florida, which gives UNC a solid option on special teams.
O’Steen: Experienced Left Tackle
O’Steen, an honorable mention All-Conference USA player at Jacksonville State, comes in with one year left. He played a key role in a top-five FBS rushing offense, showing he can handle the left tackle spot.
Johnson: Defensive Lineman from Arizona
Johnson brings two years of eligibility after three seasons at Arizona. In 2024, he played 10 games, made nine tackles, and had 2.5 tackles for loss.
Robinson: Promising Defensive End from Florida
Robinson, a former four-star recruit, had a solid freshman year at Florida with 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He’s got three years left and could be a real asset on defense.
Mupoyi: Defensive Line Depth from Penn State
Mupoyi arrives with three years of eligibility after limited snaps at Penn State. He’ll add depth to the defensive front.
Hall: Massive Offensive Lineman from UAB
Hall stands at six-foot-eight and weighs 310 pounds—yeah, he’s hard to miss. He played in all 12 games at UAB in 2024 and brings that size to UNC’s offensive line.
Sneed: Wide Receiver from Tennessee
Sneed joins with three years of eligibility after two seasons at Tennessee. He didn’t get much playing time, but there’s hope he’ll make some noise at UNC.
Hall: Versatile Running Back from Michigan
Hall played in 11 games over two seasons at Michigan and arrives with three years left. He was part of a national championship squad, which gives UNC’s running back group a little extra swagger.
Lopez: Quarterback from South Alabama
Lopez, a rising redshirt sophomore, led South Alabama to a bowl win as a freshman. He threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2024, so he’s got real credentials and three years to work with at UNC.
Verhoff: Reliable Kicker from Marshall
Verhoff comes in with one year of eligibility after a strong run at Marshall. His field goal and extra point percentages are impressive, so UNC’s special teams should be in good hands.
Horvath: Punter from Eastern Illinois
Horvath, named second team All-Big South/OVC in 2024, has two years left. He’s known for his strong punting average and long kicks—always a plus.
Wilson: Highly-Ranked Freshman
Wilson, a four-star prospect ranked No. 308 overall by On3 Sports, joins after brief commitments to a couple of other schools. He’s got four years of eligibility and plenty of potential—definitely one to watch.
Gbayor: Experienced Linebacker from Nebraska
Gbayor brings two years of eligibility to UNC after spending four seasons at Nebraska. In 2024, he racked up 49 tackles and six tackles for loss, showing real grit and adding some much-needed experience to UNC’s linebacker room.
If you’re curious about how each new player ended up at UNC, check out the UNC Football 2025 Spring Transfer Portal Window Tracker. There’s more to every journey than just the stats.
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