Billy Edwards Jr. named North Carolina starting quarterback

North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick has named veteran transfer Billy Edwards Jr. as the starting quarterback for the Tar Heels’ season opener against TCU. The game is scheduled to take place in Dublin, Ireland, on August 29.

Edwards, who enters his sixth year of collegiate eligibility, won a closely contested competition during fall camp. He narrowly edged out Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill for the position. Edwards brings significant experience to Chapel Hill, having previously played for Wake Forest and Maryland, where he threw for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2024 season. He most recently spent time at Wisconsin, where a PCL injury limited his playing time.

Head coach Bill Belichick emphasized Edwards’ extensive experience, noting that he has more playing time than the rest of the quarterback room combined. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino also confirmed that Edwards is healthy heading into the new campaign.