Clemson Opponent Previews

CLEMSON – After facing the Syracuse Orange, the Clemson Tigers head to Chapel Hill, N.C., to kick off October with a road game at North Carolina.

Under the leadership of NFL legend Bill Belichick, the Tar Heels enter a new season with massive changes in leadership and personnel. With multiple big losses to the pros, and the firing of longtime head coach Mack Brown, came a multitude of transfers and incoming players that are ready to team up in this new era of UNC Football. 

OFFENSE

Possibly the biggest move in the transfer portal for the Tar Heels was acquiring quarterback Gio Lopez from South Alabama. After throwing for over 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns with seven interceptions, he is likely to take on the starting role for the offense. Max Johnson is expected to get some time, as well after a bad injury last year.

Running back Omarion Hampton is off to the Los Angeles Chargers, and in his place, sophomore Davion Gause is expected to help lead the room, with the help of senior Caleb Hood.

The receiving room is a greater question mark, but the talents of sophomore transfer Aziah Johnson (Michigan State) and the return of Kobe Paysour and Jordan Shipp, who combined for 479 yards and a score, will help supply options for Lopez.

The offensive line is looking strong, with the return of multiple players, including Treyvon Green, Austin Blaske, and Aidan Banfield. Daniel King (Troy) will likely supply the guard spot, while Will O’Steen (Jacksonville State) will fight for the tackle spot alongside William Boone (Prairie View A&M) and others.

DEFENSE

The great defensive mind of Bill Belichick and his son, Steve Belichick, take hold of a defense that is sure to get exponentially more powerful under their leadership.

After losing Beau Atkinson to Ohio State, the Tar Heels loaded back up with the transfer portal. UConn transfer Pryce Yates and Penn State transfer Smith Vilbert will man the edges, with Vilbert being joined by Melkart Abou-Jaoude from Delaware. The expected starts at tackle are East Carolina transfer CJ Mims and Florida transfer D’Antre Robinson.

The additions of Khmori House (Washington) and Andrew Simpson (Boise State) greatly help out the linebacker corps, which will also gain the assistance of Nebraska transfer Mikai Gbayor. At cornerback, senior Marcus Allen is joined by elite Washington transfer Thaddeus Dixon, and the safety room is stacked with returning players, such as Will Hardy and Kaleb Cost, and talented transfers, including Gavin Gibson (East Carolina) and Coleman Bryson (Minnesota State).

SPECIAL TEAMS

Marshall transfer Rece Verhoff will take the lead at the kicker position after hitting 14 of 19 field goals last year. Tom Maginness returns to the Tar Heels for his senior year, looking to improve upon his 2024 stats of 41.1 yards per punt on 51 total punts.

OVERVIEW

Belichick takes hold of the Tar Heels in his first season of coaching at the collegiate level. UNC is a great place to start, as they have been competing at a higher level in the past few seasons.

Despite some good victories, they finished with a 6-7 record after a loss to UConn in the Fenway Bowl. The Tar Heels have a great opportunity to majorly improve upon their previous schedule. Their first few weeks include matchups against Richmond, UNC Charlotte, and TCU, which are all winnable games for the Tar Heels, and they follow those with a slew of ACC matchups. Regardless, this season will be a treat for UNC fans.

The Tigers travel to Chapel Hill to face the UNC at Kenan Memorial Stadium on Oct. 4.

—photo by Bob Donnan / Imagn Images