North Carolina
Largest male great white shark recorded in the Atlantic last seen off North Carolina coast
One of the largest male great white sharks that researchers have ever recorded in the northwest Atlantic ocean was last seen in a familiar beach destination.
The nearly 14-foot-long adult white shark, named “Contender,” was last pinged near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on June 7, just before 5 p.m.
Coined as the “ultimate ocean warrior” by non-profit organization OCEARCH, this nearly 1,700-pound shark was first caught, tagged and released on January 17, 2025 off the Florida-Georgia coast, 45 miles offshore near Jacksonville.
OCEARCH conducts research and collects data on large marine animals and follows hundred of sharks across the nation and in Canada.
The SPOT tag deployed on “Contender” provides real-time data for approximately five years to help the organization track his movements and understand his migration patterns.
They’ve also collected important biological samples, which are currently being analyzed to further OCEARCH’s mission of shark research and ocean conservation.
Since being tagged back in January, “Contender” has been off the radar and swimming down the Florida coast and then up toward North Carolina for 142 days, collecting 1870 miles in swims, when he was last Z-pinged of Cape Hatteras.
A Z-ping occurs when the shark spends a brief period of time at the surface, according to the organization’s website. The signal is sent and received by an Argos satellite but it’s not strong enough to determine an accurate location.
According to his travel log, “Contender” has been up and down the majority of North Carolina’s coast, miles from the Cape Lookout Shoals.
“Contender” is named in honor of Contender Boats, a longtime partner with OCEARCH, whose industry-leading sport fishing and pleasure boats enables their research missions.
“This apex predator is making moves along the Atlantic coast, giving us more valuable data on the lives of white sharks in the Northwest Atlantic,” the organization wrote on social media. “Every ping helps us get one step closer to understanding and protecting these incredible animals.”
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
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Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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