By R.L. Bynum
NFL training camps are opening with no shortage of compelling storylines involving former Tar Heels — from veterans switching teams to rookies fighting for roster spots, UNC alums being new teammates and rookie running back Omarion Hampton getting first-team reps.
Two notable offseason moves were wide receiver Dyami Brown joining the Jacksonville Jaguars after four seasons in Washington, and Javonte Williams becoming a Dallas Cowboy after four seasons in Denver. Both are expected to start.
Two of nine rookie former Tar Heels are joining Brown on the Jags: tight end John Copenhaver and wide receiver J.J. Jones. Among Williams’ blockers in Dallas will be third-year tackle Asim Richards.
There are 32 former UNC players in NFL training camps. (Scroll down for the full list of Tar Heels in training camps.)
The Atlanta Falcons and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday became the final teams to open camp.
The preseason begins on Thursday, July 31, with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, featuring Hampton’s Los Angeles Chargers and the Detroit Lions (8 p.m., NBC). Most teams play their first exhibition games Thursday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 10.
The regular season begins on Thursday, Sept. 4, with Williams’ Dallas Cowboys visiting the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (8:20, NBC).
Quarterback Drake Maye, entering his second season with the New England Patriots after a sensational rookie season, will now be throwing to another Tar Heel, wide receiver Mack Hollins, who’s was expected to start after spending last season with the Buffalo Bills. Hollins begins camp on the physically unable to perform list, though, with an undisclosed injury.
Other Tar Heels on the move:
- Sam Howell, now with the Minnesota Vikings, his third team, is expected to back up J.J. McCarthy after a season behind Geno Smith in Seattle. He’ll join a former UNC teammate, running back Ty Chandler, who enters his fourth season in Minnesota.
- Chazz Surratt is the third-string middle linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers after playing his first four seasons with the New York Jets.
- Veteran tackle Charlie Heck joins the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after splitting last season between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals. This marks his sixth NFL season and fourth team.
Seven former UNC players are expected to start. The others are Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, Miami Dolphins cornerback Storm Duck and Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes.
It’s a big comeback season for two UNC alums who suffered serious injuries:
- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb missed all of last season recovering from a left knee injury suffered in Week 9 of the 2023 season, and is listed as the second-string inside linebacker.
- Houston Texans running back British Brooks returns from a torn meniscus injury suffered in Week 5 last year that ended his rookie season. It’s unclear where he’ll fall on the depth chart, though.
Hampton (top photo) entered Chargers training camp as the backup to Najee Harris, but the free-agent signee is on the non-football injury list after suffering an eye injury in a fireworks accident on July 4.
The likely action that Hampton will get during the preseason will only bolster the expectation that he’ll be a big part of the Chargers’ offense, regardless of when Harris plays.
“He’s been attacking it, hitting it hard,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh told chargers.com of Hampton before camp opened. “Still got some days before we’re in pads but I think he’s going to be even better in pads. “He’s well trained and ready to roll.”
Having the best chance at earning roster spots among the eight other rookie former UNC players are Chicago Bears linebacker Power Echols (listed as third string), Jones (fourth string) and Los Angeles Rams center Willie Lampkin (fourth string).
Likely fighting to earn roster spots will be Copenhaver, Houston Texans cornerback Alijah Huzzie, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Nate McCollum, New England Patriots defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kaimon Rucker.
Former UNC players waived last spring were wide receiver Antoine Green by the Detroit Lions and defensive tackle Tomari Fox by the Los Angeles Raiders.
Tar Heels in NFL training camps
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 26 | 6–0, 195 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
Season statistics — 5 games, 2 starts, 8 catches, 88 yards (48 longest); 47.5 offensive rating, 50.3 pass game rating, 37.1 run-blocking rating
Week 5 — Commanders 27, Giants 27, OT (home) | didn’t start: 1 catch on 2 targets, 2 yards, 1 fumble (recovered); 1.2 fantasy points; 23 offensive snaps (37%), 37.2 offensive grade, 37.5 pass-game grade, 62.8 run-block grade
Week 6 — 8:15 Monday at San Francisco, ESPN
Michael Carter, Tennessee Titans running back
Age 27 | 5–8, 201 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string running back
Season statistics — Elevated from practice squad for Week 4, but didn’t didn’t play
Week 5 — Texans 26, Titans 3 (home) | inactive for the game
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 25 | 5–9, 171 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Season statistics — 5 games, 3 starts, 20 catches, 249 yards (42 longest); 75.4 offensive grade, 75.3 pass-game grade, 65.9 run-block grade
Week 5 — Steelers 34, Colts 22 (road) | started: 3 catches on 6 targets, 47 yards (42 longest); 1.2 fantasy points; 60 offensive snaps (100%); 63.9 offensive grade, 61.8 pass game grade; season-high 79.4 run-block grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tennessee, Fox
Joshua Ezeudu, Kansas City Chiefs tackle/guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 310 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Season statistics — 4 offensive snaps and 6 special-teams snaps
Week 5 — Open date
Week 6 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, CBS
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 4 games, 2 starts, 11 tackles, 11 assists, ½ sack; 71.1 defensive grade, 78.0 run grade, 57.9 pass-rush grade, 61.3 pass coverage grade
Week 5 — Texans 26, Titans 3 (home) | didn’t start: 2 tackles, 4 assists, ½ sack; 5.0 fantasy points; 28 defensive snaps (42%), 12 special-teams saps (55%); season-high 75.6 defensive grade, 73.9 run grade, 79.0 tackle grade, season-high 63.4 pass-rush grade, season-high 65.7 pass coverage grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 23 | 6–0, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 5 games, 4 starts, 73 carries, 271 yards, 3.7 average, 3 touchdowns; 5 catches, 35 yards (18 longest); 2 fumbles (2 lost); 63.9 offensive grade, 66.1 pass game grade, 76.7 pass-block grade, 61.6 run grade
Week 5 — Broncos 23, Chargers 17 (home) | started: 14 carries, 33 yards (11 longest); 1 catch on 1 target, 6 yards; 4.9 fantasy points; 20 offensive snaps (30%); season-high 68.0 offensive grade, season-high 88.9 pass grade, 74.4 pass-block grade, 62.9 run grade
Week 6 — 4:25 Sunday at Kansas City, CBS
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 29 | 6–1, 240 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Season statistics — 5 games, 4 tackles (all solo), 3 assists; 58.5 defensive grade, 54.9 run grade, 30.9 tackle grade, 56.0 pass-rush grade, 66.0 coverage grade
Week 5 — Steelers 34, Colts 22 (home) | 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; 8 defensive snaps (11%), 18 special-teams snaps (60%); 64.0 defensive grade, 60.0 run grade, 69.0 pass-rush grade, 61.7 pass coverage grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tampa Bay, CBS
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Backup quarterback
2024 season statistics with Seattle (didn’t play last season; hasn’t played this season); didn’t play in 2025 when with Philadelphia — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 5 — Buccaneers 24, Cowboys 16 (Thursday at home) | didn’t play
Week 6 — 8:20 Sunday at Green Bay, NBC
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 29 | 5–10, 191 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting cornerback
Season statistics — 3 games, 11 tackles, 4 assists, 2 passes defended; 45.7 defensive grade, 87.4 run grade, 67.5 tackle grade, 39.3 coverage grade
Week 5 — Ravens 30, Falcons 23 (home) | started: 3 tackles, 3 assists; 69 defensive snaps (91%), 2 special-teams snaps (7%); 45.7 defensive grade, season-high 83.9 run grade, 56.7 tackle grade, season-low 33.0 coverage grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago, Fox
Alijah Huzzie, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback
Age 25 | 5–10, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Reserve
Season statistics — Was on Houston Texans’ practice squad before Jags signed him Monday
Week 5 — Jaguars 19, Eagles 17 (in London) | Inactive for game
Week 6 — 8:20 Sunday at Green Bay, NBC
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles guard/center
Age 24 | 5–11, 290 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Season statistics — 5 games, 1 start; 64 offensive snaps, 19 special-teams snaps; 44.6 offensive grade, 33.3 pass-blocking grade, 49.1 run-blocking grade
Week 5 — Jaguars 19, Eagles 17 (in London) | started at left guard: key block on Will Shipley touchdown run; 62 offensive snaps (100%); 44.6 offensive grade, 33.3 pass-blocking grade, 49.4 run-blocking grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 23 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —Starting quarterback
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 99 of 151, 1,228 yards, 8 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 11 sacks (48 yards in losses), 89.0 passer rating; 30 carries, 161 yards, 5.4 average; 5 fumbles (2 lost); 70.0 offensive grade, 66.2 pass grade, 65.4 run grade
Week 5 — Patriots 45, Raiders 17 (home) | started: 26 of 34, 374 yards (49 longest), 4 touchdowns (35-yard TD pass to DeMario Douglas, 11:23 left in first quarter; 11-yard pass to Hunter Henry, 24 seconds left in first half; 34-yard TD pass to Kyle Williams, 12:58 left in third quarter; 8-yard pass to Douglas, 6:06 left in fourth quarter), 1 sack (3-yard loss), 150.9 passer rating; 7 rushes, 25 yards (10 longest), 1 touchdown (3-yard run, 3:10 left, third quarter); 75 offensive snaps (100%); season-high 92.7 offensive grade, season-high 92.2 pass-game grade, 65.4 run grade; 39.46 fantasy points
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Jets, CBS
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 307 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 5 games, 190 offensive snaps, 16 special-teams snaps; 47.8 offensive grade, 46.0 pass-blocking grade, 49.4 run-blocking grade
Week 5 — Vikings 23, Saints 13 | started; 42 offensive snaps (93%), 2 special-teams snaps (9%); 58.8 offensive grade, season-high 57.3 pass-block grade, 57.2 run-block grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Giants, Fox
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 29 | 6–2, 233 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist; 52.6 special-teams grade
Week 5 — 49ers 32, Seahawks 29 (home) | not active for game (calf injury)
Week 6 — 8:15 Thursday at Denver, Prime Video
Mitch Trubisky, Tennessee Titans quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Cam Ward
2025 statistics with Buffalo (hasn’t played this season) — 4 games, 25 of 35, 313 yards (37 longest), 4 touchdowns, 1 2-point conversion completion; 9 carries, 6 yards (9 longest)
Week 5 — Texans 26, Titans 3 (home) | didn’t play
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–1, 198 | third NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 start, 24 catches, 75 yards (47 longest), 1 touchdown; 58.0 offensive grade, 60.6 pass game grade, 57.6 run-blocking grade
Week 5 — Ravens 30, Falcons 23 (road) | started: 2 catches on 2 targets, 9 yards 7 longest), 1 touchdown (7-yard reception, 40 seconds left in regulation); 45 offensive snaps (59%); 60.7 offensive grade, 60.6 pass-game grade, 57.6 run-block grade
Week 6 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, Fox
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 74 carries, 276 yards (3.7 average), 6 touchdowns; 17 catches, 94 yards (17 longest), 5.5 average, 1 touchdown; 1 fumble (recovered); 69.5 offensive rating, 84.0 pass game rating, 60.1 pass-block rating, 63.2 run rating
Week 5 — Buccaneers 24, Cowboys 16 (Thursday at home) | started: 12 carries, 45 yards (21 longest), 1 touchdown (1-yard run, 10:51 left in the first quarter); 2 catches on 3 targets, 17 yards (9 longest); 51 offensive snaps (85%); 14.2 fantasy points; 63.8 offensive grade, 67.8 pass-game grade, 52.8 pass-block grade, 63.2 run-game grade
Week 6 — 8:20 Sunday at Green Bay, NBC
On season-ending injured reserve
— New Orleans running back Ty Chandler; suffered a knee injury in the second preseason game; ran for 45 yards in two preseason games
On injured reserve
— Houston running back British Brooks (hamstring injury)
— New York Giants rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (torn Achilles)
— New England wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf injury)
On PUP list
— Houston safety M.J. Stewart (torn quad), who didn’t play during the preseason; estimated return Oct. 11
On practice squads
— Los Angeles Rams center Austin Blaske; played every offensive snap of all three preseason games
— Minnesota defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie; had four tackles and three assists in 77 total preseason snaps
— Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker; had 5 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack (6 yards), 2 tackles for losses and 1 quarterback hit in their 41–3 preseason win Friday
Waived
— Cornerback Marcus Allen (with injury settlement) by Minnesota; had 2 tackles, 1 assist in 45 preseason snaps
— Linebacker Power Echols by Seattle
— Linebacker Tomon Fox by Los Angeles Rams; had 28 tackles and 13 special-teams tackles in two preseason games
— Linebacker Amari Gainer by New England; had 4 tackles and two assists in three preseason games
— Offensive lineman Charlie Heck by the Miami Dolphins
— Defensive end Smith Vilbert by Minnesota; had one tackle in 47 preseason snaps
Waived with injury designation
— Tight end Bryson Nesbit by Minnesota after collecting 3 catches for 29 yards in two preseason games; had been listed as fifth string
Photo via @chargers
