Bill Belichick names Billy Edwards Jr. as North Carolina’s starting QB: Reports

Bill Belichick, entering a pivotal second season in Chapel Hill after a 4-8 debut, is going with a well-traveled veteran to lead North Carolina’s offense when the Tar Heels open the season against TCU in Ireland on Aug. 29.

Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr., in his sixth season of college football, has reportedly won a close preseason competition with Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill. ESPN first reported the news.

New UNC offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino recruited O’Neill to Texas A&M while on its staff in 2023, but the Tar Heels selected the more experienced quarterback. Edwards has appeared in 28 college games and made 16 starts between stops at Wake Forest, Maryland and Wisconsin.

O’Neill appeared in eight games in two seasons at Texas A&M and completed 12 of 20 attempts for 171 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Edwards had his best season at Maryland in 2024, completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions for a 4-8 team. He averaged 261.9 passing yards per game (second in the Big Ten to Dillon Gabriel) and had the best performance of his career in a 29-28 win over USC, completing 39 of 50 passes for 373 yards and accounting for three touchdowns.

Edwards’ physical running style could become an important part of Petrino’s offense — if he’s truly healthy. The 6-foot-3, 228-pound Virginia native has scored 13 career rushing touchdowns and was frequently used as Maryland’s short-yardage quarterback before becoming the full-time starter. He scored seven rushing touchdowns in 2023, including three 1-yard scores against Michigan.

Edwards transferred to Wisconsin before the 2025 season, but injured his left knee in the opener against Miami (Ohio). He returned against Maryland three weeks later and exited during Wisconsin’s second drive. He did not play again and finished the season with 113 passing yards on 16 attempts. He received an additional season of eligibility after appearing in only two games.

If Edwards is healthy and resembles the quarterback who threw for nearly 2,900 yards at Maryland in 2024, North Carolina could be substantially better on offense. If the knee limits his mobility or the Tar Heels struggle against TCU, O’Neill could get an opportunity to run the show.