UNC football transfer tracker: Tar Heels add pair of solid WRs through portal
The transfer portal tracker is open, UNC football players are jumping in.
Since the floodgates of player movement opened with immediate eligibility starting in the COVID-era of lifted restrictions, the transfer portal has become an essential tool for roster building.
With the Tar Heels (9-4) coming off an ACC championship appearance with a roster loaded with talent, some players will look elsewhere for better opportunities.
MAYE TO RETURN:Drake Maye says he plans to return to UNC football next season
Here's a look at who has announced they will enter the portal, with the latest announcements at the top of the list. Below that is a list of incoming transfers.
Who's leaving UNC football?
Keeshawn Silver, defensive lineman
After joining the Tar Heels as a 247Sports Composite five-star prospect, Keeshawn Silver spent most of his two seasons in Chapel Hill as a reserve battling injuries. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Storm Duck, defensive back
Going to: Penn State
After an All-ACC second-team season with 46 tackles, a forced fumble, three interceptions and nine pass breakups, Storm Duck is leaving UNC after four years, with one season of eligibility remaining.
Dontae Balfor, defensive back
The 6-1, 180-pound cornerback from Starke, Florida, had six tackles in four games this season as a redshirt freshman.
Tony Grimes, cornerback
Junior cornerback Tony Grimes, who became the first five-star prospect UNC landed in more than a decade, announced he's entering his name into the transfer portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
The Virginia Beach, Virginia native had 36 tackles, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble this season.
Cam'Ron Kelly, defensive back
He came to UNC from Auburn, and now he's off to the portal. Cam'Ron Kelly shined brightest in 2021 against Wake Forest when he picked off Sam Hartman two times in the Tar Heels' win.
Kelly had five punt returns for 64 yards this season as a senior. He had four interceptions in 2021 and one this season, with 49 tackles (30 solo) and two passes defended.
He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Chris Collins, linebacker
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound edge rusher from Richmond, Virginia, is a graduate student with a year of eligibility remaining. He played in 13 games this season with 20 tackles (8 solo).
Jahlil Taylor, defensive lineman
A senior from Vienna, Georgia, cornerback Jahlil Taylor played in just three games this season. His best season with UNC was 2020 with 18 tackles including 10 solo and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Tymir Brown, defensive back
Going to: East Carolina
A redshirt freshman out of Jacksonville High School, Tymir Brown didn't see action for the Tar Heels this season after a handful of special teams appearances last season. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Kendall Karr, tight end
After sitting out last season due to injury, Karr was on the field for 22 snaps this season. The 6-3 sophomore from Belmont has two years of eligibility remaining.
Jacolby Criswell, quarterback
Going to: Arkansas
Before the 2022 season started, one of the biggest questions around UNC football was whether Jacolby Criswell or Drake Maye would be the starting quarterback. Maye won the battle and went on to become a Heisman Trophy candidate, leading the nation in passing yards per game.
Criswell saw action in 13 games over his two seasons at UNC, but a day after the Tar Heels' loss to Clemson in the ACC championship game, he announced that he'd be entering the transfer portal.
He was 18-for-31 passing for 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his career at UNC. Criswell also rushed for 133 yards and one touchdown on 20 attempts.
Raneiria "RaRa" Dillworth, linebacker
RaRa Dillworth, a four-star prospect listed as the nation’s 99th-best player, the No. 6 outside linebacker and the No. 6 player in the state in the 247Sports Composite coming out of Glenn High in Winston-Salem, didn't see much playing time for UNC.
In his two seasons as a linebacker with the Tar Heels, he had 20 tackles and a sack.
Dontavious Nash, defensive back
A Hunter Huss alum from Gastonia who ranked as the No. 18 player in North Carolina his senior season by 247Sports Composite, Dontavious Nash announced a day after the ACC championship game that he would enter the portal.
Nash was a redshirt freshman this past season, his second at UNC.
He appeared in four games as a defensive back and a special teams player with one tackle as a true freshman. This season, he played in five games with two solo tackles.
Jonathan Kim, kicker
Going to: Michigan State
A graduate kickoff specialist, Jonathan Kim decided to transfer four games into the season. Kim attempted one field goal in his four years with the Tar Heels and went 3-for-3 on extra points.
Devon Lawrence, running back
After a redshirt freshman season in 2018 coming off a state championship with Wake Forest High, Lawrence left UNC for the CIAA's Johnson C. Smith ahead of the 2022 season.
Devon is the younger brother of Dexter Lawrence, former Clemson tackle and first-round pick of the NFL's New York Giants. Devon chose UNC over UCLA coming out of high school.
Who's joining UNC football?
Willie Lampkin, offensive lineman
From: Coastal Carolina
A 6-foot, 275-pound center, Willie Lampkin comes to UNC with two years of eligibility remaining. He's a Lakeland, Florida, native and went to Coastal as a three-star recruit out of the Class of 2020.
Lampkin was named the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year by the College Football Network and earned first-team all-conference honors.
Alijah Huzzie, defensive back
From: East Tennessee State
An AP FCS All-American selection in 2022 at ETSU, Alijah Huzzie had 59 tackles, 2.5 for loss, six interceptions, 16 pass breakups and 22 passes defended (No. 1 in FCS) last season.
Derrik Allen, defensive back
From: Georgia Tech
After three years in the Yellow Jackets' secondary, Derrik Allen comes to UNC with a year of eligibility remaining. He went to Notre Dame out of high school in 2018 before transferring to Georgia Tech where he had 46 tackles, an interception and two pass breakups last season.
Ryan Coe, kicker
From: Cincinnati
Ryan Coe made 19-of-23 field goal attempts and all 44 PATs for the Bearcats in a second-team All-American Athletic Conference season last year.
Devontez Walker, wide receiver
From: Kent State
A Charlotte native, Devontez Walker signed with NC Central out of high school and then transferred to Kent State, where he had 58 catches for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns this past season.
A 6-3, 190-pounder, Walker has two years of eligibility left.
Nate McCollum, wide receiver
From: Georgia Tech
Nate McCollum had 60 catches for 655 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games for Georgia Tech last season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Amari Gainer, linebacker
From: Florida State
With experience as an edge rusher or jack, Amari Gainer played in seven games for the Seminoles last season with 17 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
A four-star prospect out of high school, the 6-3, 225-pounder is the active leader in tackles at FSU with 210.
He has one season of eligibility remaining.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football transfer portal tracker
