The UNC football program had a good amount of luck last offseason finding diamonds in the rough along the defensive line unit.
With Tyler Thompson's departure and the graduation of other key contributors from last season's squad, Bill Belichick and the UNC football program need more depth up front. They are showing strong interest in an underutilized SEC transfer who could be a breakout candidate wherever he ends up.
On the first day of college football free agency (the opening of the transfer portal window), the UNC football program is hosting former Florida defensive lineman Tarvorise Brown for a visit. He'll make a quick stop in Chapel Hill on Friday before visiting Mississippi State on Saturday.
Florida defensive lineman Tarvorise Brown has scheduled the following visits, @thebizofathlete tells@chris_hummer, @mzenitz and @CodyNagel247:
— 247Sports Transfer Portal (@247SportsPortal) January 2, 2026
North Carolina (Jan. 2)
Mississippi State (Jan. 3) https://t.co/68B1MvEl9G
More on Tarvorise Brown
Brown's college football career began at Hutchinson CC in 2023, as he earned a redshirt season after not seeing any game action.
In 2024, Brown took a chance on himself, joining the Florida Gators as a walk-on. He appeared in three games, recording a total of 26 snaps on the defensive side of the football.
This past season, the Miami, Florida native only logged a total of eight defensive snaps, spanning across three games.
A massive presence with a ton of potential
A 6-foot-7, 300-pounder, Tarvorise Brown has the size that you simply can't teach. College coaches dream of having that type of physical presence chasing around the opposing team's quarterback throughout a football game.
While he has been sparingly used during his early college career, Bill Belichick and his staff must see something in Brown that they believe they can unlock.
Given what we saw last season from the likes of Melkart Abou-Jaoude and Tyler Thompson, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Tar Heels coaching staff develop him into a formidable pass rusher.
While fans will clamor for top-tier additions, it's extremely important to have a roster that has depth all-around. The UNC football program is aiming to build upon that depth, looking for talented players who might not have reached their peak potential levels.
With good coaching, anything is possible.