Former Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards is once again on the move, and his next stop could be Chapel Hill. Billy Edwards is visiting North Carolina and head coach Bill Belichick as he searches for a new home for his final season of college football. With the Tar Heels coming off a disappointing year, the visit underscores North Carolina’s ongoing evaluation of its quarterback situation. Questions about whether former South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez is not the answer for the team. This has led to the team pursuing another dynamic quarterback.
Edwards entered the transfer portal after spending the 2025 season at Wisconsin, where his impact was limited by injury. He attempted just 16 passes before suffering a knee injury in the season opener against Miami (Ohio), sidelining him for most of the year. Edwards arrived in Madison during a quarterback room reset, but never had the opportunity to fully establish himself.
Now healthy and with one year of eligibility remaining, Edwards is preparing to join the fourth program of his college career. He began at Wake Forest in 2021, spent three seasons at Maryland from 2022–24, and then transferred to Wisconsin in 2025. That wide-ranging experience could appeal to a North Carolina staff looking for stability, leadership, and competition at the position.
North Carolina finished 4–8 in 2025, marking Bill Belichick’s first season at the helm and the program’s first missed bowl since 2018. Quarterback play showed flashes but lacked consistency, which is why the Tar Heels appear open to adding another option. Gio Lopez, who handled much of the workload, delivered a mixed but telling season.
In 2025, Lopez completed 170 of 261 passes for 1,747 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He posted a 65.1 percent completion rate, averaged 6.7 yards per attempt, and took 20 sacks, finishing with a passer rating of 130.2. While Lopez demonstrated efficiency and ball security, the offense often struggled to generate explosive plays or sustain momentum, particularly against stronger opponents.
Those numbers help explain why North Carolina may still be exploring the transfer portal. Edwards’ veteran presence and experience in multiple offensive systems could provide a higher ceiling or, at minimum, create real competition in the quarterback room. As Belichick looks to accelerate the Tar Heels’ rebuild, adding a seasoned quarterback like Edwards could be a pivotal move heading into 2026.
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