Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Add Another OT to Fold for 2025 via Portal

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The Tar Heels have completely overhauled their offensive line this offseason and that overhaul has continued in the spring transfer portal. The team added UAB offensive tackle transfer Jordan Bell to the mix last week and on Tuesday, the team added another commitment from the portal at the offensive tackle spot.

As first reported by Pete Nakos of On3 Sports, Jacksonville State transfer offensive tackle Will O’Steen has signed with UNC over interest from West Virginia and South Carolina. He will have one year of eligibility remaining at the college level.

O’Steen, a former unranked prospect on the defensive side of the ball, is a three-year starter along the offensive line at the left tackle spot. Back in 2022, as a sophomore, he played in and started 11 games for the Gamecocks, but had a rough go of things, giving up three sacks and 17 total quarterback pressures and taking just one penalty. He graded out with a 55.2 run block grade, a 28.2 pass block grade and a 49.2 overall grade in 726 snaps. The next season, he took a huge leap, as graded out with a 67.0 run block grade, a 63.3 pass protection grade and a 67.8 overall grade in 996 snaps across 13 games, which he all started. He allowed just two sacks and 17 quarterback pressures in 401 pass block snaps and took just two penalties. This past season, though, was clearly the best year of his career, as he allowed just two sacks and eleven quarterback pressures on 396 pass block snaps and took just one penalty. His grades reflected this success, as well, grading out with a 76.4 run block grade, a 72.7 pass block grade and a 78.7 overall grade.

Those numbers are the best of any of the guys that the Tar Heels have brought in from the transfer portal this offseason, meaning there is a good chance that will challenge for the starting job at that left tackle spot. He will be battling with Hall and Alabama transfer Miles McVay, who started at the position in the spring, but there is a really good chance that he was brought in to be the starter for the team when they take the field on September 1st against TCU.