UNC enters fall camp without a named starting quarterback, but Bill Belichick believes the Tar Heels are far ahead of where they were a year ago. Billy Edwards Jr., Miles O’Neill, Au’Tori Newkirk and Travis Burgess headline an intriguing competition.
North Carolina is heading into fall camp with one of the most important questions on the roster still unanswered: Who will start at quarterback?
Head coach Bill Belichick did not name a starter while speaking at ACC Kickoff on Friday, July 17, leaving the competition open as the Tar Heels prepare for their second season under the legendary coach.
What Belichick did make clear, however, is that UNC's quarterback situation is in a much healthier place than it was at this point last year.
Belichick pointed to continuity as a major difference. The quarterbacks who participated in spring practice have remained in Chapel Hill throughout the summer and have been able to lead player-run practices. That was not the case entering the 2025 season, when the quarterbacks who ultimately took meaningful snaps for Carolina had not been able to fully participate during the spring.
"This year our quarterbacks after spring ball are still here, are out in player-run practices," Belichick said. Those workouts have allowed the Tar Heels to continue developing their fundamentals, communication and trust before official fall practices begin.
The competition appears to feature several distinctly different options.
Billy Edwards Jr. brings the most proven experience of the group. Wide receiver Jordan Shipp described Edwards at ACC Kickoff as an older quarterback who has played plenty of football and seen a variety of defenses. That experience could be particularly valuable for a Carolina offense now being coordinated by Bobby Petrino.
Miles O'Neill presents another veteran option. Shipp praised O'Neill's athleticism and arm strength, saying he has a "cannon of an arm" and the ability to make all the throws.
Au'Tori Newkirk brings a different style to the competition. Shipp described him as a quarterback who "plays free" and has a backyard-football quality to his game, potentially giving the Tar Heels a more improvisational option.
Travis Burgess is another name in a quarterback room that appears significantly deeper and more stable than the one Belichick managed during his first season in Chapel Hill. Burgess perhaps provides the most long-term upside, but how ready will he be coming off injury in his senior year of high school?
The ultimate winner will also have the benefit of working in Petrino's offense. Belichick said Friday that Petrino's system contains similarities to concepts he used during his time with the New England Patriots, including protections, route combinations, play-action concepts and an emphasis on maintaining offensive balance.
Perhaps the most telling part of Belichick's answer was his emphasis on what an experienced quarterback allows an entire offense to accomplish. He specifically noted the importance of having someone who can enter the huddle, call the play and understand what every player on the field is supposed to do.
UNC did not consistently have that foundation entering last season.
Now it does.
That does not mean Carolina has found its starter yet. Edwards' experience could make him the logical favorite, but O'Neill's physical tools, Newkirk's playmaking ability and the presence of Burgess should make the quarterback competition one of the defining storylines of fall camp.
Whoever wins the job will face an immediate challenge when Carolina opens the season against TCU in Ireland. But before the Tar Heels worry about their Week Zero opponent, Belichick and Petrino must first determine which quarterback gives UNC the best chance to take a significant step forward in 2026.
The competition remains open.
Unlike last year, though, Belichick believes the Tar Heels are starting from a much stronger position.
