ACC Football

A month into the Bill Belichick era at North Carolina, the football program's general manager is already having to ease worries about the pace at which the coaching staff is coming together.

On Monday, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio wrote about the Tar Heels' staff, which hasn't expanded much in the weeks after Belichick's arrival and was "making for frayed nerves." UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi pushed back against that idea Tuesday:

On cue, The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and 247Sports' Matt Zenitz reported UNC is close to hiring Armond Hawkins away from Washington as its defensive backs coach.

However, poaching Hawkins may not totally dispel the narrative the Tar Heels are overwhelmingly targeting personnel they already know. As a member of the Huskies' staff, Hawkins worked alongside Steve Belichick, Bill's son. Florio hit on how that's a general theme right now.

"Freddie Kitchens, a holdover from the prior staff, serves as offensive coordinator. Bill's son, Steve, is the defensive coordinator," he wrote. "Matt Lombardi, G.M. Mike Lombardi's son, is an offensive assistant. Chris Jones, a former CFL coach who worked for Kitchens in 2019, is a defensive assistant. Billy Miller is a general position assistant. And Moses Cabrera, who worked for Belichick in New England, is the strength and conditioning coach."

And looming in the background are the fears that Belichick could bolt for the NFL at the earliest opportunity.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Jan. 8 that "multiple NFL teams have inquired about whether (Belichick) would reconsider his move to college football." Tom Brady, a minority owner in the Las Vegas Raiders, spoke to his former coach directly.

Based purely on how recently he took the UNC job, the odds of Belichick returning to the NFL are probably low. But it's not great for the Tar Heels that Lombardi has to publicly dispel this idea.

That makes for great fodder when rival schools are chasing the same high school recruits or players in the transfer portal as North Carolina. It's pretty easy to float the idea the whole vision the Tar Heels are trying to lay out with Belichick could disappear in an instant.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal is not happy that some believed quarterback Cam Ward quit during the team's 42-41 loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

In fact, he called such a notion "bulls--t" on Monday, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

Cristobal also explained the team went into the contest with a predetermined plan to play Ward at the start but not have him finish, adding it is "a false narrative" to believe he quit on his teammates.

The Hurricanes jumped out to a 31-28 halftime lead in a back-and-forth game with Ward under center as he went 12-of-19 for 190 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. However, the offense managed just one touchdown in the second half with Emory Williams going 5-of-14 for 26 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception.

Iowa State scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute, and Miami's final drive ended with Williams' interception.

The Hurricanes surely would have put themselves in better position to win if Ward played the entire game, but they also had to think about his future. The risk-reward analysis for the Pop-Tarts Bowl likely wasn't worth risking an injury, but he still played for some of the game in a time when many top draft prospects opt out of non-playoff bowl games entirely.

That future will include him being selected early in the 2025 NFL draft, as B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the sixth-best overall player and best quarterback in its latest big board of prospects.

It also projected him as the No. 2 overall pick in its latest mock draft, underscoring that his talent and potential will surely override any concerns NFL teams may have with him not playing down the stretch of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Miami boosters are paying a pretty penny to have former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck suit up for the Hurricanes next season.

CBSSports.com's John Talty and Chris Hummer reported Beck is expected to make $4 million in NIL money, which "is still less than an initial asking price industry sources believe would have shattered the highest paid NIL deal in college football history."

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and Manny Navarro, however, cited multiple sources who said "the number he's set to receive from Miami channels is closer to a little over $3 million, roughly double the $1.6 million Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward earned through Miami's collective."

Dan Everett, Beck's agent, declined to confirm any NIL specifics tied to his client's transfer to Miami.

"Miami is a terrific market and we are pumped for Carson to become a Cane!" Everett said to Talty and Hummer. "As one of the premier faces of college football NIL, we expect his brand portfolio to continue expanding with premium and national brands. Carson will prioritize teammate inclusive partnerships that include charitable components."

Prior to the start of the 2024 season, Beck appeared to be a lock to declare for the 2025 NFL draft, and the odds still seemed pretty good even as his performance fell short of expectations. He was the No. 37 overall player on Bleacher Report's most recent big board.

But the UCL injury Beck suffered in the SEC title game may have caused him to reverse course after having first signaled his intention to leave college behind.

Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com spoke with multiple sources who suggested the experienced QB "wasn't a lock to go in the first three rounds even before the UCL injury." Perhaps Beck and his reps got even more critical feedback after he was sidelined.

Before the advent of the NIL era, Beck probably would've risked it even if his draft stock was perceived to be slipping. When he can make $4 million from one season at Miami, spurning the NFL was a pretty easy call.

Per Spotrac, the No. 18 overall pick in the 2025 draft will average just under $4.1 million annually from his rookie contract, and that's likely well ahead of where Beck would've been picked. If he had dropped to the second round, the highest average salary he could've earned was $2.7 million.

Strictly for the 2025 season, the 23-year-old will probably get more at Miami than he would've in the pros, and he's creating the opportunity to significantly increase his future earnings. Maybe he can reassert himself as one of the top passers on the board in 2026, which is exactly what Cam Ward did with his brief time on the Hurricanes ahead of this year's draft.

Miami fans will have to wait a while to see quarterback Carson Beck on a football field, but the Hurricanes' newest transfer is already making his impact felt in the content game.

Beck and girlfriend Hanna Cavinder, a guard on Miami's basketball team, celebrated his arrival in South Florida in a video she posted to TikTok:

Having spent the last four years at Georgia, Beck was eligible to enter the 2025 NFL draft, and he was generally expected to test the pro waters. He was the No. 37 overall prospect on Bleacher Report's 2025 big board that was posted on Jan. 2.

Instead, the experienced signal-caller will suit up for Miami next season.

In addition to the fact his girlfriend is already a student there, CBS Sports' John Talty and Chris Hummer reported Beck is expected to collect $4 million in total NIL money with the transfer.

For some perspective, Caleb Williams has a $795,000 base salary from his rookie deal with the Chicago Bears. As the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, he also received a $25.5 million signing bonus.

The payouts dropped precipitously as you get further down the first round. Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who was picked 23rd overall, got a $7.5 million signing bonus.

Getting $4 million to play another year of college ball and potentially improving your draft stock in the process could be a shrewd decision.

Beck had a somewhat underwhelming final year at Georgia. In 13 games, he threw for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Cam Ward parlayed his one year with Miami into becoming one of the top QBs in the 2025 draft, so maybe Beck could be on a similar trajectory.

The Miami Hurricanes have found their replacement for quarterback Cam Ward.

Former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck announced on X that he had committed to Miami to continue his collegiate career.

Beck had declared for the 2025 NFL draft but instead entered the transfer portal on Thursday. One day later, he is heading to Miami to replace Ward, who will be in the 2025 draft.

Beck spent the past five seasons at Georgia, where he won two national championships and was a two-year starter. He assumed the role in the 2023 season and compiled an overall record of 23-3 as a starter.

His 2023 season was better than his 2024 one, but he remained an impact player for the Bulldogs. He threw for 3,485 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2024.

He suffered a UCL injury in his elbow during the SEC Championship Game against Texas and missed the team's College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Notre Dame after undergoing surgery.

Miami went 10-3 after a sensational season from Ward in which he finished fourth in the race for the Heisman Trophy. Beck will hope to pick up where Ward left off and revitalize his draft stock for 2026.

North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi shut down recent rumors that NFL teams have reached out to Bill Belichick to try to get the Tar Heels head coach to interview for vacant coaching positions.

On The Pat McAfee Show, Lombardi said Belichick is "committed" to North Carolina and the rumors have "no legs."

Completely committed, 1,000 percent committed," Lombardi said. "Guys that do the insider stuff for the NFL, they've got to put stories out there. That one was a complete falsehood. Coach Belichick, when that story came out, was recruiting South Jersey... That story just had no legs. I think what often happens in rumoring, and I know this from doing it in the league, is people try to make a connection. A to B equals C. That's not always the case. Yes, Tom Brady is being involved with interviews, yes Tom Brady is doing research on coaching candidates, yes Tom Brady is calling people up for advice and council... but don't assume because he's doing that that he wants Bill Belichick. Bill Belichick committed to North Carolina, he committed to me, he committed to the university. There's been no conversation about anything.

Several reports in recent days have said that Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady reached out to Belichick regarding a head coaching job, though Mark Maske of The Washington Post noted that the Raiders "have not been giving serious consideration in recent days to trying to hire Belichick as their coach."

While it's impossible to rule out Belichick's return to the NFL entirely, Lombardi made it clear that the legendary head coach has no intention of abandoning his post in Chapel Hill.

After watching UConn defensive lineman Pryce Yates dominate UNC in the Fenway Bowl, new Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick reportedly decided to add him to the roster.

According to ESPN's Max Olson, Yates is expected to transfer to North Carolina this offseason as one of Belichick's first major acquisitions through the transfer portal.

Yates earned defensive MVP honors in the Fenway Bowl after racking up six total tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in UConn's 27-14 victory over UNC at Fenway Park in Boston. The loss for the Tar Heels was the final game before the Belichick era officially began.

In three seasons with the Huskies, Yates had career numbers of 108 total tackles, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three passes defended. After appearing in all 25 games over his freshman and sophomore seasons, he missed the first six games of the 2024 campaign due to injury before returning on Oct. 19 against Wake Forest.

Per Don Callahan of 247Sports, Yates initially entered the transfer portal on Dec. 13 before withdrawing his name following a visit to N.C. State. He re-entered the portal on Dec. 30, two days after his breakout performance in the Fenway Bowl.

Yates is now the third defensive lineman to commit to UNC in the transfer portal, joining Melkart Abou-Jaoude (Delaware) and CJ Mims (East Carolina). In total, 13 transfers have committed to the Tar Heels so far.

Belichick appears to have had no trouble in his transition from the NFL to the college level, and the legendary head coach surely will continue to find ways to improve the UNC roster before the 2025 season.

UNC head coach Bill Belichick is adjusting to the college recruitment landscape by launching a new social media presence.

"I'm officially on Twitter, so you can follow me there," Belichick said in a Monday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

Belichick's new X account had already shared its first post earlier that afternoon:

Belichick's interview with McAfee came as the former New England Patriots head coach said he was on the road for his first recruiting visit as a college coach.

The trip has so far taken Belichick to North Carolina schools including South Garner High School and Rolesville High School.

The prospects who met with Belichick included four-star defensive end Zavion Griffin-Haynes, a Class of 2026 prospect who was formerly committed to North Carolina before parting ways with the program following former head coach Mack Brown's departure.

North Carolina's incoming 2025 class is currently ranked No. 80 in the nation by 247Sports. Belichick will look to combine his NFL success with his newly-accessible social media presence to boost that ranking by 2026.

Cam Ward's decision to only play the first half of Miami's 42-41 loss against Iowa State in this year's Pop-Tarts Bowl proved to be extremely controversial, at least from an outside perspective

The Hurricanes, however, knew what to expect going into the game. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic provided more insight into Ward's decision:

From talking to sources inside the Miami program, no one was surprised that Ward didn't finish the game. The Athletic learned that Ward agreed to start the game but there was no timeline in terms of how long he would play. A big part of the reason Ward played, according to those program sources, was because he knew that if he opted out, 10 other players would've opted out as well. But if he started the game, those others would start, too.

I've had conversations with multiple Miami coaches and staffers who have repeatedly gushed about Ward's leadership skills and competitiveness over the past year, and I doubt those sentiments have changed much. I know they haven't from a few of the people I have talked to since the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Feldman added that the original expectation was that Ward would play a quarter, but after Miami fumbled the opening snap of the game and running back Damien Martinez scored on a 75-yard touchdown run on the second possession, circumstances changed and Ward decided to play the entire half.

The risk-reward ratio for Ward playing at all heavily skewed toward risk. Miami was playing in a meaningless bowl game after failing to reach the College Football Playoff, and Ward is widely considered one of the two best quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL draft alongside Colorado's Shedeur Sanders.

In other words, he had very little to gain, but was risking the sort of major injury that could have negatively affected his draft stock. An NFL general manager told Feldman that he "didn't think much of it" when seeing Ward only played the first half, so the decision is unlikely to raise any red flags with NFL teams.

Frankly, the only thing that feels off about the situation was the messaging from Miami's end:

And Ward gave Miami plenty to remember fondly this season, throwing for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the Hurricanes to 10 wins. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist, and while the Hurricanes' failure to win an ACC title or reach the CFP was a major disappointment, it was still a huge improvement from the team's 7-6 record a year ago.

The outrage over Ward not finishing the Pop-Tarts Bowl feels like much adieu over nothing, in other words. Ward split the difference—he didn't completely bail on his team, but he limited his injury risk as well.

After leading Clemson to an appearance in the College Football Playoff this season, junior quarterback Cade Klubnik isn't ready to end his college career.

Klubnik announced on Monday that he will be returning for his senior season with a video posted to social media:

ESPN's Pete Thamel noted that Klubnik is "part of a strong nucleus... that should have Clemson projected as a Top 5 team in 2025."

Klubnik took over as the Tigers' full-time starter toward the end of the 2022 season when he replaced DJ Uiagalelei in the Orange Bowl and hasn't looked back. He turned a corner this season, throwing for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 463 rushing yards and seven more scores.

Clemson finished the year with a 10-4 record after losing to Texas in the CFP first round. Klubnik, who was playing in his hometown of Austin, completed 26 of his 43 passes for 336 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the 38-24 loss.

"I'm hurting a lot," Klubnik said after the game. "It was fun to come home, but it was not a vacation. It was time to come win a football game, and we didn't do that."

Despite the loss, Klubnik received praise from Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney for his maturation into a dependable starter.

"That young man has grown into an amazing leader," Swinney said of Klubnik. "You're never out of a game with him."

Clemson will continue building around Klubnik as it tries to return to national championship contention in 2025.