The North Carolina Tar Heels have taken a significant hit in the transfer portal, as defensive lineman CJ Mims has decided to enter the portal and leave UNC.
Mims, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound lineman, joined the Tar Heels after three seasons with the East Carolina Pirates. In 2025, he was a key contributor to UNC’s defense, recording 42 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. His departure is part of a larger exodus from last year’s roster; as of January 10, roughly 30 former Tar Heels have entered the transfer portal since it opened on January 2.
Other notable defensive losses include linebackers Khmori House, Chinedu Onyeagoro, and Austin Alexander, defensive backs Malcolm Ziglar and Ty White, and edge rushers Tyler Thompson and Devin Ancrum. Offensively, UNC has already lost three quarterbacks — Gio Lopez, Max Johnson, and Bryce Baker — along with running back Davion Gause and wide receivers Chris Culliver and Javarius Green, among others.
To counter these departures, head coach Bill Belichick and his staff have already brought in several impactful transfers on defense, including Michigan State’s Ade Willie, Penn State’s Jaylen Harvey, and linebacker Peyton Seelmann. With the transfer portal window closing soon, UNC will aim to add more high-level talent to fill the numerous holes on their roster.
The Tar Heels finished 4-8 in Belichick’s first season as head coach and have posted losing records in each of the last two seasons. A strong offseason could position UNC to compete with the ACC’s top teams for the first time since 2023. For Belichick, the former Super Bowl-winning NFL coach, the first NCAA season provided a crash course in college football dynamics, and he now appears ready to focus on rebuilding UNC’s program in 2026 and beyond.
Leave a Reply