Today has been a very busy day of portal entries for the Tar Heels on the offensive side of the ball and that continued with the latest player that entered his name.
Sophomore quarterback Conner Harrell, who started two games this season for the Tar Heels, announced via social media earlier this evening that he has entered his name in the transfer portal. He will have two years of eligibility remaining wherever he eventually ends up.
Harrell played in eleven games in his three seasons in Chapel Hill, including three in which he started. He started last year’s bowl game against West Virginia and showed some promise, but that never really carried over this year despite him being a part of the team’s first three wins of the season.
After coming in and helping get the team a win against Minnesota after Max Johnson’s brutal leg injury, he took over the starting job against Charlotte and NC Central, but he was replaced in the NC Central game by Jacolby Criswell, who led the team to victory. Harrell would receive one last meaningful opportunity against James Madison the next week, but proceeded to fumble his lone snap encouraging the team to go back to Criswell and never look back.
He finishes his Tar Heel career 43-70 for 560 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions to go along with 110 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 37 carries.
His departure is not exactly unexpected with how the quarterback room looks right now. Criswell still has one year of eligibility remaining, as does Johnson, who said earlier this year that he plans on using that extra year of eligibility. The room also contains true freshman Michael Merdinger, who showed some nice flashes in the spring. The team is also attempting to retain 4✮ QB Bryce Baker, who would immediately come in and compete for at least a backup role.