UNC quarterback Bryce Baker to enter transfer portal, per reports

Chapel Hill

North Carolina true freshman quarterback Bryce Baker plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, which opens Jan. 2, according to On3 and 247Sports. On3 was first to report the news.

Baker, a 4-star prospect from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, was the first high school recruit to commit to UNC under head coach Bill Belichick. After Belichick was hired last December, he made it a priority to re-recruit Baker, who had originally committed to the Tar Heels under former coach Mack Brown in 2023. Baker had waited to finalize his decision after Brown’s firing, but ultimately signing with Belichick in December 2024. Shortly thereafter, Belichick famously introduced Baker at halftime of a UNC men’s basketball game against La Salle to a roaring home crowd.

Despite the fanfare, Baker didn’t see any game action in 2025. He fell to fourth on the quarterback depth chart behind Gio Lopez, Max Johnson and fellow true freshman Au’Tori Newkirk.

Baker’s departure leaves UNC with two returning quarterbacks, Lopez and Newkirk, whose intentions for the upcoming season have not been announced. Johnson plans to enter the transfer portal and appeal for an extra year of eligibility.

The news of Baker’s exit on Monday comes several hours after news broke of the reported hiring of Bobby Petrino as UNC’s new offensive coordinator.

Baker was a consensus top-five player in the state of North Carolina coming out of high school. His decision to enter the portal marks a swift departure from a program he joined amid high-profile fanfare.

For a tracker of UNC’s transfer moves, click here.