Billy Edwards Jr. has been named the starting quarterback for Bill Belichick's North Carolina Tar Heels, according to ESPN. The transfer quarterback will lead the team for their season opener against TCU, scheduled for Aug. 29 in Dublin, Ireland.
Edwards brings a significant amount of collegiate experience to the Tar Heels. He began his college career in 2021 as a redshirt at Wake Forest and spent three seasons with Maryland from 2022 to 2024. During the 2024 season with Maryland, Edwards was the full-time starter, throwing for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He had been named the starter for Wisconsin prior to an injury that ended his season prematurely in 2025, for which he received a medical redshirt, granting him a sixth year of eligibility.
Belichick, entering his second season as head coach of the Tar Heels, previously commented on Edwards' qualifications. "Billy Edwards has played a lot of football and had a lot of production in the Big Ten in the 2024 season at Maryland," Belichick stated. "From an experience standpoint, he has more experience than all the other quarterbacks put together, times five."
Edwards secured the starting position over Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill, who appeared in eight games over two seasons with the Aggies. The decision is a key development for Belichick, 74, as he aims to improve the Tar Heels' performance after a challenging 2025 season. That season concluded with a 4-8 overall record and a 2-6 conference record, which included a significant loss in their opener against TCU.