This North Carolina Tar Heels weapon could establish himself as an elite player next season.
The North Carolina Tar Heels' offense did not have much to write home about last season. The quarterback situation was miserable, the weapons were very limited and the entire unit as a whole had difficulty developing any sort of consistency.
Bill Belichick has definitely overhauled the offense this offseason, bringing in Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator and completely reworking the receiving corps.
While wide receiver Jordan Shipp is the most notable returning player on that side of the ball, North Carolina has another playmaker everyone should be monitoring in 2026: running back Demon June.
June was a freshman last season, and his numbers were mostly unassuming as he registered 464 yards and a couple of touchdowns on 5.5 yards per carry. Additionally, he logged 17 catches for 159 yards and a score.
The problem for June was his inconsistency.
June put together a couple of very impressive performances in 2025, racking up 148 yards in the Tar Heels' second game of the season against Richmond and then recording 101 yards versus Syracuse in late October.
North Carolina Tar Heels running back Demon June. Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images.But those outings were few and far between for the Jacksonville, N.C. native, who posted three single-digit rushing showings in three of his last four games.
Heading into next season, however, there is reason to believe that June could be a breakout playmaker for North Carolina.
The Tar Heels brought in one halfback via the transfer portal, adding Kaleb Jackson (who previously played for LSU). They also have one coming in via their 2026 recruiting class in the form of three-star prospect Crew Davis.
Benjamin Hall will be returning, but Davion Gause transferred, so it's pretty clear that June will be the go-to guy for UNC next fall.
There is no question that the former three-star recruit showed some flashes of brilliance in 2025, and it will be curious to see what he can do with more opportunities and in a more fluid offensive system in general.
Much in the same way that Nate Sheppard burst on to the scene for Duke this past year (although he did it as a freshman), June could ultimately become that breakout star for North Carolina in his sophomore season.
Tar Heels Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things North Carolina Tar Heels. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.