UNC Football: Tar Heel quarterback to leave UNC, enter transfer portal

Tar Heel quarterback decides to leave UNC football program, enter transfer portal

North Carolina redshirt freshman quarterback Cade Fortin has decided to leave the UNC football program, and enter the NCAA transfer portal. Multiple sources reported the news on Thursday evening, which comes just days after North Carolina head coach Mack Brown announced that true freshman quarterback Sam Howell would begin taking snaps with the Tar Heels’ first-string offense.

Brown reiterated on Sunday what UNC offensive coordinator Phil Longo said last week; that Fortin had been dealing with a sore arm that was affecting him during preseason workouts. Longo stated at the time that Fortin was the team’s “best pure passer”, but it was Howell’s consistency that put him in the lead for the starting role, according to Brown. Brown did note that Fortin’s nagging arm soreness played a part in the decision to give Howell first team snaps.

Fortin’s transfer comes as no surprise to Brown and the UNC coaching staff. The former had already talked to the media multiple times this summer about the possibility of one of the team’s quarterbacks transferring once a starter was named. It was particularly likely due to the fact that each of the three UNC quarterbacks are so close in age. There was no indication which one might leave, though, even when Fortin was asked about a possible transfer last week.

"“I’m really focused on competing and being the best I can be every single day,” Fortin told Inside Carolina last week. “I’m just taking it one day at a time and really not worrying about what’s going to come next week, next month, throughout the season. I’m really taking it one day at a time and focusing on this practice and this game and all of that. I’m not worrying about what’s going to happen, the question marks on the season. Just focus on what I can control.”"

The Tar Heels are now left with just two scholarship quarterbacks on their roster. Redshirt freshman Jace Ruder is currently the only back-up for starting signal-caller Sam Howell.

In four games last season, Fortin completed 32-of-65 passes for a 49.2 completion percentage and 388 yards. He threw just one touchdown to go along with one interception, and had a passer rating of 101.4.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Fortin was a 3-star recruit in the class of 2018. The North Gwinnett High School alum was ranked 29th in the nation among pro style quarterbacks, and a top-70 prospect from the state of Georgia.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the UNC football program leading up to the start of the season on August 31.