As of Friday night, despite this week's hiring of six-time New England Patriots Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick as the program's 35th head coach in history, there are a dozen UNC football players in the transfer portal. And at least one more is set to enter it in wide receiver Gavin Blackwell.
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The 6-foot, 185-pound redshirt junior informed On3's Hayes Fawcett of his plan to enter the portal on Friday morning. He became the second Tar Heel receiver to choose that route in as many days, as fellow redshirt junior Kobe Paysour revealed his decision around the time that Belichick's introductory press conference was wrapping up on Thursday afternoon.
Blackwell, who has one year of eligibility remaining where he ends up next, saw action in only six games for the 2024 Tar Heels (6-6, 3-5 ACC), tallying four receptions for 43 yards.
Between his redshirt freshman and sophomore campaigns, though, the Indian Trail, N.C., native hauled in 27 catches for 405 yards and one touchdown.
Gavin Blackwell hauls in his first career TD, a 4-yard pass from Drake Maye midway through the 2Q.
Tar Heels up 21-7. pic.twitter.com/KoBcCR3Zzw
As part of Mack Brown & Co.'s 2021 class, Gavin Blackwell arrived in Chapel Hill as a top-shelf prospect out of Sun Valley High School (N.C.). The four-star prep ranked No. 210 overall, No. 36 among wide receivers, and No. 13 in North Carolina on the 247Sports 2021 Composite.
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.
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