A transfer linebacker has elected to finish his college football career at UNC

The UNC football program secured the veteran linebacker it desperately needed in the transfer portal.

Derek McDonald commits to North Carolina

The former Syracuse standout has agreed to finish out his college football career with the UNC football program. He will have one season of eligibility to work with.

The scoop on Derek McDonald

A very productive player at Syracuse, McDonald mostly served in a starting linebacker role for the Orange. The Georgia native appeared in every game during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but unfortunately was limited to three games in 2025 due to a season-ending hip injury.

In total, McDonald recorded 173 tackles over 1,469 snaps played at Syracuse, showing how active he was on the defensive side of the football. Tar Heel fans may also remember his fumble recovery he had against the UNC football program during the 2023 season.

UNC now runs in the family

McDonald has a family connection to the University of North Carolina, as his player profile on Syracuse's website indicates that his mother, Nina, ran track for the Tar Heels. Now, McDonald will follow his mother's footsteps to Chapel Hill.

Injury concern

If healthy, McDonald should be a very reliable player for the UNC football program's defensive unit. However, coming off a season-ending injury, along with his injury issues during his redshirt freshman campaign, the Tar Heels are banking on him to stay healthy this season, as it serves as a risky move especially given the current depth in the positional group.

Transfer Portal Update

With the addition of McDonald, the UNC football currently has 12 players committed to joining the program. Of course, this could certainly change (as we saw with Jonathan Bibbs), but for now, the Tar Heels have secured two transfer linebackers to help solidify the unit heading into the 2026 season.

Check out our transfer portal tracker for all the latest news and updates surrounding the UNC football program.