Mack Brown shares how North Carolina's approach to transfer portal has changed

North Carolina coach Mack Brown knew the transfer portal would be some sort of madness to college football.

Brown and the Tar Heels have a new approach to the portal since the floodgates opened, coupled with NIL. In fact, college football turned into the NFL a little bit, at least in the offseason portion, according to Brown.

Not only are there recruitments for high school players, but Brown (and other coaches) have to recruit their own players and other college players year-round.

“We have our priorities,” Brown said. “We have priorities for June. If something pops up that we would need, we would still take, you have to look at your priorities compared to your numbers. We may have some guys leave after spring practice. So do you hold those spots for high school guys next year? Or do you find the right guy in the portal in June? 

“But it’s different and what we feel like we need to do now is, it’s more like free agency. You need to address immediate needs. And you need to address that because you’re losing some guys too as you gain some guys.”

The Tar Heels coach continued to say it was a balancing act with current guys on the roster since some could consider transferring after the season, rather in-season.

“I do think, and talking to the staff and talking to the guys that were in the portal for the reason that they wanted to play more, it was great for us to let them play in the bowl game,” Brown said. “They’ll practice hard, they play hard. They left here with a really good taste in their mouth. So if somebody’s leaving because they’re mad, if somebody’s going to the NFL, they wouldn’t play anyway in the bowl. 

“But if someone’s here, and they’re leaving because they want more playing time, I totally understand that. That’s fair as hard as they work. And we’re going to work with them to try to help them in any way we can.”

As far as transfers are concerned, UNC managed to hang on to Heisman Trophy contending quarterback Drake Maye. Rumors circulated Maye was offered millions of dollars to transfer elsewhere that Brown and Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi all but confirmed, without naming the actual team.

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But with Maye back, North Carolina could be on the shortlist to win the ACC next season.