Bill Belichick, UNC Reportedly Land Commitment from Potential QB1 Billy Edwards Jr.

UNC football head coach Bill Belichick may have found the Tar Heels' next starting quarterback.

Ex-Wisconsin and Maryland signal-caller Billy Edwards Jr. will reportedly join UNC, per ESPN's Pete Thamel, after taking a visit to the Chapel Hill campus this weekend.

Edwards suffered a left knee injury during Wisconsin's 2025 season opener, and he only played in one more game after that contest. However, he is expected to be ready for spring practice, per ESPN's Mark Schlabach.

Edwards began his collegiate career with Wake Forest in 2021 and redshirted for the Demon Deacons. However, he transferred to Maryland in 2022 and played three years for the Terrapins. Edwards rose up to QB1 on the depth chart in 2024, completing 65.0 percent of his passes for 2,881 yards (6.9 yards per attempt), 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His 261.9 passing yards per game ranked second in the Big Ten. He also rushed for 150 yards and five more scores.

Edwards entered 2025 as Wisconsin's QB1, but he unfortunately suffered the aforementioned injury during his team's 17-0 win over Miami (Ohio). Edwards attempted to come back on Sept. 20, when Wisconsin hosted Maryland. He completed 1-of-3 passes for 45 yards on the opening drive but unfortunately was unable to continue to due to the aforementioned injury and was later ruled out.

Now he'll get a fresh start with UNC. Per Schlabach, Edwards is expected to get a medical redshirt, which would give him one more year of eligibility.

The Tar Heels' offense sorely needs a boost to help a team that just went 4-8 in Belichick's first season. UNC finished second-last in the ACC in scoring with 19.3 points per game. That figured ranked 120th overall among 136 Division I-FBS programs. In addition, the team only threw for 183.5 passing yards per game.

Edwards could potentially provide help. There will be some competition for the QB1 role. Gio Lopez, last year's starter, is returning to the program, as is Au'Tori Newkirk, who will be a sophomore. Travis Burgess, a 4-star quarterback in the class of 2026, will also be aboard.

However, Edwards might have as good of a chance as any of them as UNC looks toward the 2026 season, which begins on Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.