UNC and Bill Belichick sign veteran QB in a move that no one saw coming

North Carolina's quarterback room just got a whole lot interesting on Sunday morning.

After reshaping the depth chart this offseason, led by the addition of Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr., the Tar Heels secured another transfer portal commitment that legitimately no one saw coming.

Taron Dickens commits to North Carolina

Former Western Carolina transfer Taron Dickens has committed to Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels. He'll come to Chapel Hill with two seasons of eligibility to work with.

Dickens dominated during the 2025 season

While Western Carolina is a FCS program in the Southern Conference (SoCon), you can't ignore how good Dickens was during the 2025 season. The Miami, Florida native completed 74.2% of his passes for 3,508 yards and 38 touchdowns, throwing just two interceptions on the year. He also added 321 rushing yards and a score on the ground, showing his ability to make plays with his legs.

Of course, it's not wrong to question whether the production will translate to the FBS level. While some will have their doubts, you should have confidence that UNC believes it will translate, as Bill Belichick and his staff would've never recruited him if they didn't believe that he could thrive in Chapel Hill.

What this means for UNC's quarterback room

There will be plenty of competition in the Tar Heels' new-look quarterback room.

While Gio Lopez and Max Johnson both transferred, UNC brought in reinforcements via the transfer portal and the 2026 recruiting class, re-shaping a room that left plenty of room for improvement.

Edwards Jr. and Dickens will now compete to be UNC's QB1 come opening day in Ireland, as both players bring experience and playmaking ability to the offense. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino will have options to work with as he aims to help the Tar Heels' put more points on the board this upcoming season.