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The North Carolina Tar Heels struggled to another mediocre finish at the conclusion of their 2024 football season, but one area proved to be a massive improvement early: defensive line.
Reserve lineman Beau Atkinson, now an Ohio State Buckeye, was UNC's top sack-getter with 7.5 QB takedowns. Jahvaree Ritzie, who recently signed with the New England Patriots as a UDFA, was the country's top defensive lineman through the first three weeks of 2024. Regardless of who produced, North Carolina's D-line got after the quarterback with significant success.
The Tar Heels are tasked with replacing every starter for their 2025 unit, though, but are succeeding in that task through the transfer portal.
UNC's latest defensive line addition comes from Arizona Wildcats transfer Isaiah Johnson, who committed on Sunday, April 27.
Johnson, who will be a redshirt junior this coming fall, played mainly as a reserve for Arizona. Johnson played sparingly in 2022, sat out 2023 and turned in his most productive season during 2024, recording nine tackles and 2.5 TFLs.
Johnson is the second defensive lineman giving a commitment to North Carolina over the weekend, joining Florida defensive tackle D'Antre Robinson.
Looking at the Tar Heels' unofficial depth chart, Johnson should have a solid path to starting minutes on the football field this fall. UNC also welcomes Vilbert Smith, CJ Mims and Pryce Yates through the transfer portal, but I'm willing to bet Bill Belichick will have an offseason competition for his rotation.
With the rise of transfer portal activity in the NIL-controlled college sports world, the portal feels a lot like free agency. North Carolina is using the portal to its full advantage – and we can only hope it pays off come September.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC welcomes Arizona D-lineman Isaiah Johnson through transfer portal
Continue reading...
Reserve lineman Beau Atkinson, now an Ohio State Buckeye, was UNC's top sack-getter with 7.5 QB takedowns. Jahvaree Ritzie, who recently signed with the New England Patriots as a UDFA, was the country's top defensive lineman through the first three weeks of 2024. Regardless of who produced, North Carolina's D-line got after the quarterback with significant success.
The Tar Heels are tasked with replacing every starter for their 2025 unit, though, but are succeeding in that task through the transfer portal.
UNC's latest defensive line addition comes from Arizona Wildcats transfer Isaiah Johnson, who committed on Sunday, April 27.
Johnson, who will be a redshirt junior this coming fall, played mainly as a reserve for Arizona. Johnson played sparingly in 2022, sat out 2023 and turned in his most productive season during 2024, recording nine tackles and 2.5 TFLs.
Johnson is the second defensive lineman giving a commitment to North Carolina over the weekend, joining Florida defensive tackle D'Antre Robinson.
Looking at the Tar Heels' unofficial depth chart, Johnson should have a solid path to starting minutes on the football field this fall. UNC also welcomes Vilbert Smith, CJ Mims and Pryce Yates through the transfer portal, but I'm willing to bet Bill Belichick will have an offseason competition for his rotation.
With the rise of transfer portal activity in the NIL-controlled college sports world, the portal feels a lot like free agency. North Carolina is using the portal to its full advantage – and we can only hope it pays off come September.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC welcomes Arizona D-lineman Isaiah Johnson through transfer portal
Continue reading...
