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Another UNC Football Quarterback Decides to Transfer

One-year UNC football player Michael Merdinger has entered the portal.

Matt Giles

UNC football head coach Bill Belichick
UNC football head coach Bill Belichick / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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On Thursday morning, UNC football freshman quarterback Michael Merdinger became the 19th Tar Heel to enter the transfer portal this cycle. However, four have removed their names since the 72-year-old Bill Belichick's introductory press conference as the program's new head coach two weeks ago.

ALSO READ: Top UNC Transfer Posts Pictures in Tar Heel Threads

Merdinger was UNC's third-string signal-caller for most of the 2024 regular season under then-head coach Mack Brown. He wasn't on the field for any snaps and now has four years of eligibility remaining wherever he ends up next.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Merdinger, an early enrollee in January, arrived in Chapel Hill as a three-star prospect out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., sitting at No. 1,040 overall, No. 61 among quarterbacks, and No. 142 in Florida on the 247Sports 2024 Composite.

According to his Tar Heel bio, Michael Merdinger "is believed to be the first Israeli-born athlete to play in the FBS."

He's the second UNC football quarterback to enter the transfer portal this month. Sophomore Conner Harrell, who threw for 552 yards and four touchdowns while connecting on 61.4 percent of his pass attempts between his two Tar Heel campaigns, did so in early December, a week after the school parted ways with the 73-year-old Brown.

Meanwhile, Bill Belichick and his staff have reeled in 10 transfers, including one quarterback in Purdue redshirt freshman Ryan Browne.

ALSO READ: First-Year Tar Heel Defender Reveals Plan to Transfer

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC football news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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