The University of North Carolina picked up former Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens out of the transfer portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.
Dickens spent three seasons at Western Carolina, where he threw for 3,508 yards, 38 touchdowns and 2 interceptions last season, with a 74.2% completion percentage. He also had 321 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Dickens threw for a total of 5,063 yards, 51 touchdowns, 5 interceptions and a 74% completion percentage in his three seasons at WVU.
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Dickens is the third quarterback that the Tar Heels have added, following the signings of Billy Edwards Jr. from Wisconsin and Miles O’Neill from Texas A&M.
Edwards played 34 snaps in two games at the University of Wisconsin after injuring his knee in the season opener. He spent his first three years at the University of Maryland, where he threw for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 2024. Edwards signed with Wake Forest and redshirted out of high school.
O’Neill saw limited action during his first two years behind Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed. The Tar Heels also signed freshman quarterback Travis Burgess.
In Bill Belichick’s first year in Chapel Hill, the team went 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the ACC. North Carolina ranked second-to-last in the ACC in passing and receiving yards and ranked last in total yards and first downs converted.
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Gio Lopez started most of the year at quarterback. Lopez threw for 1,747 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. After the season, Lopez transferred to Wake Forest. Former North Carolina quarterbacks Max Johnson (Georgia Southern) and Bryce Baker (Virginia Tech) also transferred to other schools.
