2025 State Of North Carolina Football Transfer Portal Entries
(Outgoing)
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
(Last updated Dec. 31, 2024)
(NOTE: An updated version of this article is available HERE.)
Thanks to the NCAA’s creation of the transfer portal in 2018, then the organization’s revolutionary 2021 rule change that allowed first-time transfers to be immediately eligible at their new school, the manner in which college football teams are built and sustained has changed dramatically.
Adding talent is only part of wisely managing the transfer portal era, though. Coaches now spend countless hours trying to keep their own top talent, too.
In football, NCAA rules provide for two transfer windows each year. For the 2024-25 cycle, the early window runs from Dec. 9-28. The late window, designed to follow spring practice, will run from April 16-25 in 2025. Both windows were shortened from those in the 2023-24 transfer cycle.
With this year’s portal in mind, the 2025 outgoing transfers from the state of North Carolina’s seven Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs, divided according to their contributions to the program they’re departing, are listed below.
Important reminder: Under NCAA rules, a player who puts his name in the portal retains the option to stay at his current school without jeopardizing his eligibility. Each year, a very small percentage of potential transfers withdraw from the portal and are welcomed back to their current teams.
Although each player’s situation is unique, generally speaking, schools aren’t concerned about losing little-used veterans or others buried on the depth chart. Often, those transfers can become win-win situations, in which the player finds more playing time elsewhere and the school he’s leaving now has one additional scholarship to offer to an incoming transfer or to a high school senior.
On the other hand, losing proven stars is almost always a bad sign. Losing productive starters is often (but not always) a cause for alarm, too.
This year’s cycle in the Old North State was complicated by head coaching changes at five programs — Appalachian State, Charlotte, East Carolina, North Carolina and most recently Wake Forest (Dec. 16) — although the Pirates’ coaching change (from Mike Houston to Blake Harrell) came at midseason, leaving current players and potential signees with less uncertainty in that case.
Stars
App State QB Joey Aguilar^, Gr. (2023/2024 2nd-team/HM All-Sun Belt; 2-year starter; 511-850 career passing for 6,760 yards, 56 TDs, 24 INTs) — UCLA
App State DE Santana Hopper, r-Jr. (2024 1st-team All-Sun Belt; 2-year starter; 71 career tackles, 17 TFL, 8.5 sacks) — TULANE
App State WR/KR Makai Jackson, Sr. (2024 3rd-team All-Sun Belt; 73 career catches, 1,163 yards, 7 TDs) — INDIANA
App State LB/DE Nate Johnson, Jr. (2023 2nd-team All-Sun Belt; 2-year starter) — MISSOURI
Charlotte WR O’Mega Blake, r-Sr. (2024 2nd-team All-AAC; 13 career starts at South Carolina, Charlotte; 52 career receptions for 1,046 yards, 11 TDs) — ARKANSAS
East Carolina LB Zakye Barker, r-Jr. (2024 2nd-team All-AAC; 2024 starter) — SMU
East Carolina WR Chase Sowell, r-Jr. (2024 2nd-team All-AAC; 2-year starter; 83 career receptions for 1,323 yards, 4 TDs) — IOWA STATE
NC State WR KC Concepcion, Jr. (2023 2nd-team All-ACC; 2-year starter; 124 career receptions for 1,299 yards, 18 TDs) — TEXAS A&M
Multi-Year Starters and All-Conference Honorees
App State S Jordan Favors, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 2023 HM All-Sun Belt) — WITHDRAWN (staying with Mountaineers)
Charlotte CB Dontae Balfour, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 3rd-team/HM All-AAC) — TEXAS TECH
Charlotte C Jonny King, r-Sr. (3-year starter; 27 career starts) — WITHDRAWN (staying with 49ers)
Charlotte PK Stephen Rusnak, r-Sr. (2024 starter; 2024 3rd-team All-AAC) — CINCINNATI
Charlotte RT Kendall Stanley, r-Jr. (13 career starts; HM All-AAC) — PITTSBURGH
East Carolina CB Isaiah Brown-Murray, r-Jr. (2-year starter; 21 career starts) — VIRGINIA TECH
North Carolina PK Noah Burnette, Gr. (3-year starter; 2023 2nd-team All-ACC; 558 career points, 49-62 FGs)
Wake Forest WR Donavon Greene, Gr. (2-year starter; 22 career starts; 2024 backup)
Wake Forest OG Matt Gulbin, Gr. (2-year starter; 22 career starts; 2024 HM All-ACC) — MICHIGAN STATE
Wake Forest OC Luke Petitbon, Gr. (2-year starter; 23 career starts; 2024 HM All-ACC) — FLORIDA STATE
Wake Forest OT Keagan Trost, r-Sr. (2-year starter at Indiana State, Wake Forest; 25 career starts) — MISSOURI
Other Regular Starters
App State CB Jason Chambers, Sr. (22 career starts at NC Central, App; 2024 starter)
App State DT Markus Clark, r-Jr. (9 career starts; 2024 redshirt) — LIBERTY
App State DE Shawn Collins, r-Sr. (10 career starts; 2024 backup) — WITHDRAWN (staying with Mountaineers)
App State DT Joshua Donald, Sr. (10 starts in 2024; 6-1, 320 pounds)
App State OC Jack Hollifield, Gr. (11 career starts; 2024 starter) — TULANE
App State RB Kanye Roberts, r-Jr. (9 career starts; 1,155 career rushing yards, 10 TDs) — WITHDRAWN (staying with Mountaineers)
App State OT Thomas Shrader, Gr. (12 career starts; 2024 starter) — SOUTH FLORIDA
Charlotte FB/TE Joey Bearns III, r-Sr. (13 career starts, including 5 in 2024) — WITHDRAWN (staying with 49ers)
Charlotte LS Adam Booker, r-Jr. (2-year starter; from Middle Creek HS in Apex) — MIAMI
Charlotte DT Dre Butler^, Gr. (9 career starts; 2024 starter; also Independence CC, Auburn, Liberty, Michigan State)
Charlotte CB Elijah Culp, Gr. (22 career starts at 3 schools; 2024 starter)
Charlotte WR Jairus Mack, r-Sr. (15 career starts; 2024 starter; 51 career receptions for 959 yards, 3 TDs)
Charlotte OG Mitchell Mayes, r-Sr. (21 career starts at Clemson, Charlotte; 2024 starter)
Charlotte S Treyveon McGee, r-Sr. (8 starts in 2024; also Independence CC, Iowa State) — WITHDRAWN (staying with 49ers)
Charlotte RB Cartevious Norton, Sr. (9 career starts; 2024 starter; 1,180 career rushing yards, 12 TDs) — SOUTH FLORIDA
Charlotte QB DeShawn Purdie, So. (6 career starts, all in 2024) — FLORIDA
Charlotte OG Jordan Spasojevic-Moko, Gr. (13 career starts; 2024 starter)
Duke QB Maalik Murphy, r-Jr. (14 career starts at Texas, Duke; 2024 starter; 294-492 career passing for 3,410 yards, 29 TDs, 15 INTs) — OREGON STATE
Duke RB Star Thomas^, Ss. (23 career starts at NMSU/Duke; 2024 starter as “senior”; also Coffeyville CC)
East Carolina LB/S Gavin Gibson, Sr. (11 career starts at LB; 2024 starter; also Maryland 2022-23)
East Carolina CB Dontavius Nash, r-Sr. (9 career starts; 2024 part-time starter; also UNC 2021-22)
North Carolina LG Aidan Banfield, So. (10 career starts; 2024 starter) — WITHDRAWN (staying with Tar Heels)
North Carolina OC Austin Blaske, Gr. (11 career starts; 2024 starter; also Georgia 2020-23) — WITHDRAWN (staying with Tar Heels)
North Carolina LB Amare Campbell, Jr. (13 career starts; 2024 starter) — WITHDRAWN (staying with Tar Heels)
North Carolina WR Kobe Paysour, r-Sr. (15 career starts; 2024 starter; 70 career receptions for 936 yards, 7 TDs) — WITHDRAWN (staying with Tar Heels)
North Carolina LT Howard Sampson, Jr. (12 career starts; 2024 starter; also North Texas 2022-23) — TEXAS TECH
Wake Forest WR Horatio Fields, r-Sr. (12 career starts; 2024 starter; 44 career receptions for 517 yards, 4 TDs) — AUBURN
Wake Forest CB Jamare Glasker, r-Jr. (9 career starts; 2024 starter) — MARYLAND
Wake Forest TE Harry Lodge, r-Jr. (7 career starts; 2024 starter) — GEORGIA TECH
Wake Forest OG Nick Sharpe, r-Jr. (12 career starts; 2024 starter) — SOUTH CAROLINA
Part-Time Starters
App State FS Avarion Cole, r-Sr. (4 starts in 2024; also NC A&T) — WITHDRAWN (staying with Mountaineers)
App State OG Garner Langlo, r-Sr. (6 starts in 2024; also Auburn)
Charlotte QB Max Brown, r-Jr. (5 starts in 2024; also Florida)
Charlotte LB Cam Burden, r-Sr. (7 career starts; 49ers’ #2 tackler in 2024) — MEMPHIS
Charlotte DE Demon Clowney, r-Sr. (8 career starts; also Ole Miss) — LOUISVILLE
Charlotte PK Kyle Cunanan, r-So. (2024 backup; 2023 starter) — CALIFORNIA
Charlotte S Mordecai McDaniel, r-Sr. (4 career starts; also Florida, Iowa Western CC) — OKLAHOMA STATE
Charlotte DB Maguire Neal, Sr. (8 career starts; 2024 backup) — MISSOURI STATE
Charlotte TE Colin Weber, r-Sr. (8 career starts; 573 career receiving yards) — RUTGERS
Duke QB Grayson Loftis, r-So. (5 career starts; 2024 backup/redshirt) — CHARLOTTE
East Carolina S Jordan Huff^, Gr. (4 career starts; 2024 backup)
Contributing Reserves
App State RB Anderson Castle, r-Sr. (3 career starts; 2024 backup) — DUKE
App State S Jalik Thomas, r-Sr. (2 career starts; 2024 backup/redshirt) — FLORIDA A&M
App State DB Trenton Alan Yowe, r-Sr. (2 career starts; 2024 backup) — ARKANSAS STATE
Charlotte OG Mo Clipper Jr., r-Jr. (2024 backup; also Tennessee) — WITHDRAWN (staying with 49ers)
Charlotte DE Lacota Dippre, r-So. (2 starts as redshirt freshman in 2024) — JAMES MADISON
Charlotte DT Katron Evans, r-Sr. (2024 backup; also Jackson State) — MARSHALL
Charlotte OT Jordan Herman, r-Jr. (1 career start; also Florida)
Charlotte LB Aidan Kaler, Gr. (2024 backup; also Stony Brook) — STONY BROOK
Charlotte RB Terron Kellman, r-Jr. (2 career starts; 2024 backup)
Charlotte WR Isaiah Myers, r-Jr. (2024 backup; also Independence CC)
Charlotte WR Jack Reynolds, Gr. (1 career start; 2024 backup)
Charlotte RB/KR/PR Henry Rutledge, r-Sr. (3 career starts; top return man) — WITHDRAWN (staying with 49ers)
Charlotte DE Donovan Spellman, Sr. (24 career tackles, 2024 backup) — WITHDRAWN (staying with 49ers)
Charlotte OG PJ Wilkins, r-So. (1 career start; 2024 backup) — OLE MISS
East Carolina RB Javious Bond, r-So. (1 career start; 2024 backup)
East Carolina WR Kerry King, Gr. (2024 backup; former walk-on)
East Carolina DT CJ Mims, r-Jr. (37 career tackles, 2024 backup) — NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina C Zach Greenberg, r-Sr. (1 career start; 2024 backup) — JAMES MADISON
North Carolina QB Conner Harrell, r-Jr. (3 career starts; 2024 backup)
North Carolina RB Caleb Hood, r-Sr. (4 career starts; 393 career rushing yards) — WITHDRAWN (staying with Tar Heels)
North Carolina LB Caleb LaVallee, r-So. (1 career start; 14 career tackles)
North Carolina OT Jakiah Leftwich, r-Sr. (9 career starts at Georgia Tech, UNC; 2024 backup) — CENTRAL FLORIDA
North Carolina DT Travis Shaw, Sr. (51 career tackles; 2024 backup)
North Carolina CB Tyrane Stewart, Sr. (1 career start; 2024 backup; also East Mississippi CC)
NC State WR/PR Jalen Coit, Gr. (22 career PR for 215 yards; backup WR)
NC State DE Red Hibbler, r-Sr. (2024 backup; left team at midseason) — MISSISSIPPI STATE
NC State DT DJ Jackson, r-So. (2024 backup; multiple injuries) — LIBERTY
Wake Forest WR Deuce Alexander, r-So. (430 career receiving yards, 3 TDs) — OLE MISS
Wake Forest WR Walker Merrill, r-Sr. (2 career starts; 2024 backup)
Wake Forest CB Demarcus Rankin, r-Sr. (2024 backup)
Wake Forest LB Eldrick Robinson II, r-Jr. (16 career tackles)
Others
App State WR Reece Larson, r-Jr.
App State WR Zavier Short, r-Jr.
App State WR Grant Tucker, r-So. — WOFFORD
Charlotte DB Cornell Allen, r-Fr.
Charlotte CB Jamari Broady, r-Jr.
Charlotte DE Tyson Clawson, r-Jr. (DNP in 2023 or 2024)
Charlotte S Alonzo Colvin, r-Sr. (DNP in 2023 or 2024)
Charlotte RB Rod Gainey Jr., r-Fr. — WITHDRAWN (staying with 49ers)
Charlotte LB Avery Morris, Gr.
Charlotte DE Malik Puryear, r-Sr.
Charlotte CB Anthony Romphf, r-Sr. — TULSA
Charlotte LB Darius Wallace, r-Fr.
Duke LB Montreze Smith, r-Fr.
Duke LB Carter Wyatt, r-So.
East Carolina OG Amarie Archer, r-Jr. — AKRON
East Carolina DB Daylyn Diston, r-So.
East Carolina QB Bryson Harrison, r-So.
East Carolina DE Demoris Jenkins, r-So.
East Carolina DB Tequan Latimore, r-Sr.
East Carolina TE Nick Slogik, r-Fr.
East Carolina LB Greg Turner III, r-So. — TENNESSEE TECH
East Carolina OL Kenny Walz, r-Fr.
North Carolina RB Jordan Louis, r-So.
North Carolina OG Malik McGowan, Gr.
North Carolina QB Michael Merdinger, r-Fr.
North Carolina OT Andrew Rosinski, r-Fr. — GEORGIA TECH
North Carolina OT Eli Sutton, Gr. — AUSTIN PEAY
North Carolina LB Ashton Woods, So.
NC State WR/S Jakolbe Baldwin, Gr. — MARSHALL
NC State OT Sean Hill, r-Sr.
NC State LB Cannon Lewis, r-Fr. — MARSHALL
NC State OL Obi Obasuyi, r-So.
NC State LB Jayland Parker, r-Sr. — MARSHALL
NC State TE Juice Vereen, r-So. — UCONN
NC State LB Wyatt Wright, r-Jr.
Wake Forest OL Jaydon Collins, r-Sr.
Wake Forest QB Charlie Gilliam, r-So.
Wake Forest LB Dallas Hurley, r-Fr.
Wake Forest S Busbee Phillips, r-Fr.
Wake Forest TE Luca Puccinelli, r-Fr.
Wake Forest CB Antonio Robinson Jr., r-So.
Wake Forest OL Zach Vaughan, r-Sr. — WESTERN MICHIGAN
Wake Forest WR Jason Woods, r-Fr.
^-recent NCAA waiver granted former junior college players extra season of eligibility
NOTE1: Eligibility listed is for upcoming (2025) season.
NOTE2: Non-scholarship players (walk-ons) are not included.
NOTE3: Some graduate students (Gr.) have multiple seasons of eligibility remaining.
