Who will be UNC football starting quarterback? Bill Belichick breaks down 5 options

CHAPEL HILL — Things look a lot different for UNC football as the Tar Heels continue a five-week period of spring practice ahead of their second season under coach Bill Belichick . During UNC’s “Practice Like A Pro” day in April 2025, Ryan Browne and Bryce Baker took a majority of the snaps in an intersquad scrimmage at Kenan Stadium. Neither player took a snap over the course of the Tar Heels ’ 12-game schedule, with Browne returning to Purdue and Baker sitting behind Gio Lopez, Max Johnson and Au’Tori Newkirk on the depth chart.

Newkirk, who appeared in two games and totaled 14 snaps per Pro Football Focus, is the lone returner in a retooled quarterback room as UNC begins preparation to rebound from a 4-8 debut season under Belichick. YEAR 2 WITH BELICHICK: What’s different for Bill Belichick, UNC football entering spring practice 2026? HALL OF FAME SNUB: Bill Belichick addresses Hall of Fame snub, UNC football focus Lopez transferred to in-state rival Wake Forest, Johnson made the move to Georgia Southern and Baker joined James Franklin at Virginia Tech.

UNC brought in three transfers at QB and added a highly-touted freshman recruit to join Newkirk. When asked what pops about the players he added to the QB room and what he likes about them, Belichick said “they’re all a little bit different” during his spring press conference on March 24. Here’s a breakdown of the five quarterbacks competing for Belichick's Tar Heels in Year 2.

Billy Edwards Jr. , Wisconsin transfer Rocking a red No. 9 jersey during UNC’s opening day of spring practice, Edwards could be the favorite to land the starting job for Belichick’s second squad in Chapel Hill.