Before the spring transfer portal opens on Wednesday, the UNC football program lost one of its returning stars.
The spring transfer portal window will open on Wednesday, and many college football players nationwide are anticipated to seek new opportunities.
North Carolina has already felt the effects, with reports indicating that standout EDGE Beau Atkinson intends to enter the portal.
BREAKING: North Carolina EDGE Beau Atkinson plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
The 6’6 260 EDGE totaled 54 Tackles, 11 Sacks, & 1 FF (2 seasons)
Appeared in every game & earned ACC DL of the Week honors
2 years of eligibility lefthttps://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/tZmHRdOsak
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 16, 2025
Atkinson has just completed a standout sophomore season, during which he tallied 7.5 sacks, including 6.5 in the last six games. He emerged as a dominant force in North Carolina’s pass rush.
Throughout his two seasons at Chapel Hill, Atkinson recorded 54 tackles in total (16.5 for a loss), sacked the quarterback 11 times, and forced a fumble.
With Kaimon Rucker also having exhausted his college eligibility and Atkinson entering the transfer portal, UNC has now lost its top two sack leaders. The coaching staff will need to explore transfer options to address the significant gap left by Atkinson’s departure.
Given his performances, Atkinson is expected to be in high demand in the transfer portal, quickly becoming one of the top defensive players available. It’s likely that programs have already expressed interest even before his announcement, as he could provide a significant boost to any team aiming for a spot in the College Football Playoffs this season.
While Atkinson is the first known player to enter the transfer portal, he certainly won’t be the last. In the current landscape of college athletics, these moves are becoming common, leading everyone to anticipate unexpected changes.
This is a major setback for North Carolina, one that will undoubtedly impact how they pursue potential recruits to help fill the considerable void left by Atkinson.
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