UNC to Host ACC Linebacker Transfer For Official Visit

North Carolina is expected to host a transfer portal linebacker for an official visit.

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-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The first couple of days of the 2026 transfer portal window have been chaotic for North Carolina and head coach Bill Belichick, as the Tar Heels have seen several players enter the portal, and the staff is also making progress with some of the program's top portal targets.

One of those targets is a former Syracuse Linebacker whom the Tar Heels are expected to host on campus in Chapel Hill for an official visit in the near future.

Syracuse Linebacker Transfer to Visit UNC

On Jan. 2, 247Sports reported on X that North Carolina, along with Northwestern, is expected to host Syracuse linebacker transfer Derek McDonald for an official visit.

Syracuse linebacker Derek McDonald has set visits to North Carolina and Northwestern, his agent @AJ_Calabro tells @mzenitz. https://t.co/dZZw5ti42V

— 247Sports Transfer Portal (@247SportsPortal) January 2, 2026

Although no specific dates have been published for McDonald's trip to Chapell, it is expected to take place within the next week. 

McDonald was a three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class from Marist School in Atlanta, Georgia. He didn’t receive many Power Four offers out of high school and ultimately committed to and signed with Syracuse. 

Sep 9, 2023; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange linebacker Derek McDonald (15) against the Western Michigan Broncos during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images | Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

He’s spent the last five seasons with the Orange. After redshirting in 2021, he served as a rotational linebacker on Syracuse’s defense in 2022. He started in 2023 and 2024 but missed eight games in 2025 due to injury. He enters the portal with one year of eligibility remaining. 

Over his career, McDonald has appeared in 41 games, recording 173 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He’s a veteran linebacker with proven ACC experience and would be able to start immediately for the Tar Heels in 2026. 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings list him as a three-star recruit, the No. 964 overall player in the portal, and the No. 75 linebacker. 

Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Reese Taylor (1) returns a punt as Syracuse Orange linebacker Derek McDonald attempts a tackle in the second quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Linebacker is a significant position of need for the Tar Heels during the portal window, as UNC has already lost four players at the position to the portal, including Khmori House, who led the team in tackles last season. 

While McDonald isn’t the most exciting linebacker in the portal, it’s hard to point to more players in college football with more experience than him, and he would be able to slide in and become a leader on Belichick’s defense. 

Oct 31, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick looks to the clock in the fourth quarter game against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Northwestern and other programs are expected to pursue McDonald, so the Tar Heels will face competition if they want to land him. Still, it’s hard to imagine the Georgia native turning down the chance to move closer to home and play under Belichick, so UNC should be in a strong position to win his portal recruitment. 

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