For the second time today, the Tar Heels have lost a running back to the transfer portal.
Senior running back Caleb Hood announced via social media earlier this evening that he will be entering the transfer portal. Hood, who spent the last four years in Chapel Hill, will have one year of eligibility remaining.
In his four seasons in a Tar Heel uniform, Hood played in 25 games, including four starts which all came during the 2022 season. Injuries were a big part of why he wasn’t able to establish a bigger role in the backfield, especially in the last two seasons. In those 25 games, Hood carried the ball 87 times for 393 yards and two touchdowns and caught the ball 17 times for 157 yards and one touchdown. He also returned kicks for the team on and off throughout his career, returning three kicks for a total of 55 yards. His best season came in that 2022 season where he ran for 250 yards on 43 carries and caught 13 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
Hood joins redshirt freshman Jordan Louie as those to depart the Tar Heels running back room today which signifies the beginning of a lot of changes there this offseason. Starting running back Omarion Hampton is almost certainly heading to the NFL, while graduate Darwin Barlow may push for another year of eligibility at the college level, but may not want to return to Chapel Hill. The hope is that the new coach can at least keep true freshman Davion Gause and hold on to the commitment of 2025 3✮ RB Demon June Jr. to at least set up a foundation.