North Carolina
North Carolina QB Max Johnson says he will return for 2025 season
Max Johnson’s 2024 season reached a swift end after suffering a broken leg in North Carolina’s Week 1 win over Minnesota. Yet the senior intends to return to the Tar Heels to play one more season, he told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Friday.
“These last eight days have been a serious grind and it has taken a lot to get to [the] other side and start the recovery process,” Johnson said in a statement sent to ESPN. “I want to thank Dr. Templeman and his team, the nurses and support staff at Hennepin County Medical Center who took amazing care of me.”
“It will be hard to sit on the sidelines, but I have a lot of football left in me and know I will be back out there next year,” he added after thanking University of Minnesota doctors, UNC head coach Mack Brown and his staff, athletic trainers, family and friends. “In the meantime, I’ll be there every day supporting my teammates and helping out as much as I can. I appreciate all the love and support from the fans — #GoHeels.”
Johnson had surgery on Aug. 30, following the game the day prior, and has remained in Minneapolis while recovering. According to Brown, Johnson will participate in team activities once he returns to Chapel Hill and is able to travel with the team to be on the sideline when medically cleared.
Conner Harrell takes over as the Tar Heels’ starter after getting beat out by Johnson. As the backup to Drake Maye last season, he appeared in five games (including starting the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against West Virginia) and threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns on 67% passing.
Next season will be Johnson’s sixth in college football. He played his first two years at LSU before transferring to Texas A&M. After a coaching change in College Station, Johnson moved on to North Carolina with two years of eligibility remaining. Whether or not he petitions for a seventh year of eligibility may depend on how next season goes for him.
During his college career, Johnson has thrown for 5,923 yards and 47 touchdowns to 13 interceptions, while completing 61% of his passes.
North Carolina (1–0) hosts Charlotte (0–1) for its Week 2 matchup with kickoff from Chapel Hill at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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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