The Tar Heels’ recruiting class is considerably smaller at this year’s early signing period than the past two years as UNC searches for its next head coach, navigates changing NIL scene.

Mack Brown will not return to coach the North Carolina Tar Heels football team in 2025. The decision was made in advance of a 35-30 loss to North Carolina State, but Brown was allowed to see out the season and finished at 6-6 after the rivalry loss.

Kitchens, who served a year as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, joined Mack Brown’s staff in February 2023.