Belichick has pressed UNC to a new level of live, contact-heavy practice, a stark contrast to the NFL pace he cites as a benchmark. With Week 1 looming against TCU, the Tar Heels are leaning into battle-tested evaluation: a quarterback room crowded with Max Johnson, Gio Lopez, Bryce Baker, Au'Tori Newkirk, and Gary Merrill, plus a defensive overhaul featuring nine new starters. Practice on August 2 marked a shift toward tempo and situational reps, aiming to uncover who can lead a program hungry for relevancy. The emphasis on live work without preseason games adds both risk and clarity in the quest to define starters and depth early.

From a fantasy vantage point, UNC's intense camp signals volatility at QB and evolving offensive roles. Johnson's experience competes with Lopez's upside, while freshmen like Newkirk and Merrill push for immediate targets. The defense will shape weekly upside as new starters settle in, and the lack of a traditional preseason means even tiny camp discrepancies can ripple into week-to-week scoring. Expect a high-variance early slate with meaningful upside as Belichick's pro-itinerary rubs off on college talent.