UNC targets star Liberty RB Evan Dickens as transfer portal opens

Story by

Grant Chachere, Tar Heels Wire

Fri, Jan 2, 2026 ·

2 min read

With the transfer portal opening Friday, North Carolina is already on the trail, as any major college football program should be.

One early target is Liberty running back Evan Dickens . According to 247Sports’ transfer portal database, he has two visits scheduled: North Carolina on Friday, followed by Boston College on Jan. 4. The Tar Heels are banking on his trip to Chapel Hill making a strong enough impression that he cancels Sunday’s visit — and any others he might be weighing.

After seeing limited action over two seasons at Georgia Tech , Dickens transferred to Liberty and quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top offensive threats. Across 11 games, he ranked fifth in the country with 1,339 rushing yards and scored 16 touchdowns, the most in Conference USA. Over the final five games of 2025, he rushed for 945 yards and 12 touchdowns and led the league in scoring at 9.6 points per game.

He finished the season with six 100-yard games, all against Conference USA opponents, and posted a school-record three 200-yard performances.

Transfer Portal Outlook on Offense

Oct 28, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a North Carolina Tar Heels helmet on the field before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After a disastrous 4-8 season in Bill Belichick’s first year in charge, North Carolina will look to bolster its roster, especially on offense . The Tar Heels ranked 119th nationally in scoring at 19.3 points per game and 129th in total offense at 288.8 yards per game.

While the primary concerns on offense are the offensive line and wide receiver, the quarterback and running back rooms could also use more depth — there is no such thing as too much talent.

Dickens is the second player expected to visit UNC on Friday, as former Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards is also scheduled to be in Chapel Hill.

Make sure to follow Tar Heels Wire for more transfer portal updates as the portal period ramps up.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Football: RB Evan Dickens to visit Tar Heels