Bill Belichick has made his choice for the North Carolina starting quarterback. Graduate student Billy Edwards Jr. will lead the team against TCU on August 29 in Dublin. ESPN reported the decision on Tuesday, and the Fayetteville Observer confirmed it later that day. This move ends the uncertainty before the season starts.
The Battle for the Job
Edwards did not win this spot easily. He beat out Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill, freshman Travis Burgess, and redshirt freshman Au’Tori Newkirk. ESPN’s Pete Thamel noted that Edwards won a close battle in training camp. He brings the most experience to the field among the four candidates. The team needed a steady hand after a rough previous year.
Last season, the Tar Heels offense struggled mightily. Gio Lopez and Max Johnson averaged only 6 when their quarterback stats were combined.3 yards per passing attempt. The team scored only 19.3 points per game, ranking 120th among 136 FBS teams. Both players transferred out after the season, leaving the position wide open for a new leader.
Why Edwards Fits the Plan
Belichick hired Bobby Petrino in January to guide the offense. Edwards has a clear path to success under Petrino. The new offensive coordinator knows how to build a passing attack. Edwards spent three seasons at Maryland before transferring to Wisconsin. In 2024, he threw for 2,881 yards with a 65% completion rate.
He also threw 15 touchdowns and ran for five more scores. Those numbers show he can move the ball and find the end zone. While he started at Wisconsin, a knee injury cut his season short early. During that short appearance, he threw for 113 yards after making just seven of 16 passes. Despite the injury, his Maryland stats remain the strongest resume in the room.
The Tar Heels face a tough test right out of the gate. They travel to Ireland to play TCU for the Week 0 opener. It marks the second season of the Belichick era at UNC. The hope is that the second year goes much better than the first. The team finished with a 4-8 record last season.
Edwards is now the man to fix the shoddy quarterback play that hurt the team. He has the tools to run an offense under Petrino. The fans will see if he can deliver in Dublin on August 29. The decision was made on Tuesday, August 18, giving the team time to prepare.
