A New Era at the Helm
Billy Edwards, Jr., a transfer from Maryland, is set to start at quarterback for the University of North Carolina in the season‑opening game against Texas Christian University.
The Tar Heels’ coaching staff, overseen by head coach Bill Belichick and senior advisor Mike Lombardi, set out to rebuild the quarterback position after a disappointing 2025 campaign, bringing in Edwards along with Miles O’Neill and Travis Burgess.
Edwards arrives with six years of college experience, having started every game at Maryland in 2024. That season he completed 65% of his passes for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, highlighted by a dramatic last‑second victory over USC and a narrow loss to Indiana.
A knee injury sustained in Wisconsin’s first game last year has lingered, but Edwards opted against surgical repair and remains the front‑runner for the starting role despite the physical concern.
Miles O’Neill and Travis Burgess are also competing for the job, while Au’Tori Newkirk returns as the team’s backup quarterback, adding depth to the room.
The early‑season schedule is among the toughest in the nation, pitting UNC against a formidable TCU squad in the opener and promising a rigorous test for the new starter.
The move underscores the program’s ambition to rebound under Belichick and Lombardi, with fans eager to see how the rebuilt quarterback corps will perform on the national stage.