The Bill Belichick hire has made the UNC football program extremely attractive to players around the country, especially those who are hoping to make it to the next level. With murmurs of nearly every top-ranked player in the transfer portal showing interest in a move to Chapel Hill, it’s no surprise that this Fayetteville, North Carolina native is included.
Former five-star defensive end Amaris Williams of Auburn reportedly hit the portal this week, and the UNC football program is one of the top contenders to land him. According to Rivals Portal on social media platform “X,” formerly known as Twitter, North Carolina is among the top “teams to watch” in recruiting the freshman.
Auburn DL/Edge transfer Amaris Williams is expected to be very popular this transfer cycle pic.twitter.com/vVSpMSJlk6
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) December 16, 2024
Other teams that could be potential landing spots for Wiklliams include Big Ten and SEC powerhouses like Texas A&M, LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio State, and Penn State.
Williams appeared in five games his freshman season at Auburn, totaling seven tackles and 0.5 sacks. Although his playing time in his debut season was limited, he certainly showed he has what it takes to play at the highest level throughout his high school career.
Williams dominated his senior season at Clinton High School in Clinton, NC, in 2023. As a senior, he helped lead his team to a 15-1 record, playing on both sides of the ball and doubling as a running back on offense. According to MaxPreps, Williams had 34 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and eleven sacks his senior season.
Landing Williams would be a massive addition to the depth of the Tar Heels defensive line, which earlier today added another huge piece, as Bill Belichick and the UNC football program earned a commitment from Delaware transfer Melkart Abou Jaoude.