Which UNC football players will join Bill Belichick in Charlotte at ACC media days?
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Talkin' season ramps up for UNC football on July 24 at ACC Kickoff, the league's annual preseason media event in Charlotte.
First-year head coach Bill Belichick and four Tar Heels will join players and coaches from all 17 programs spread across three days at the Hilton in Uptown Charlotte. UNC kicks off the 2025 season against TCU on Sept. 1 (8 p.m., ESPN) at Kenan Stadium.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips will kick things off in Charlotte with his annual address on July 22 before Cal, Miami, SMU, Stanford and Virginia and take the stage.
Six teams — Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse and Wake Forest — will speak with media members on July 23 before Boston College, Clemson, Duke, UNC, N.C. State and Virginia Tech wrap things up on July 24. ACC Network will be providing coverage, starting at 9 a.m. each day.
The Tigers are the reigning champions of the league, beating SMU at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte last season. Both teams competed in the 12-squad College Football Playoff, but were eliminated in their opening-round games.
Here's a breakdown of the players UNC is bringing to ACC media days.
Gio Lopez, UNC quarterback
Lopez heading to Charlotte is an early indicator that the South Alabama transfer is positioned to be UNC's starting quarterback in the season opener against TCU. It'll be the redshirt sophomore's first media appearance as a Tar Heel since joining the program after spring practice. He had more than 2,550 passing yards, with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions last season with the Jaguars.
Will Hardy, UNC defensive back
A three-year graduate at UNC, Hardy returns for his senior season as one of the leaders in the Tar Heels' defensive backfield. He logged 38 tackles, an interception, pass breakup, forced fumble and fumble recovery across 14 games as a junior.
Jordan Shipp, UNC wide receiver
A sophomore wide receiver from Charlotte, Shipp could be one of the Tar Heels' top weapons this season. He had nine catches for 114 yards and a touchdown in 12 games as a freshman. Because of his speed, Shipp will likely land a bigger role with the offense in 2025.
Thaddeus Dixon, UNC defensive back
Like Hardy and Shipp, Washington transfer Thaddeus Dixon spoke with media members during a summer press conference at the Kenan Football Center. The redshirt senior from Los Angeles projects as one of the Tar Heels' top defenders after a successful career with the Huskies, who played for the national championship in 2024. Dixon had 69 tackles, 16 pass breakups and two interceptions in 28 games at Washington.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Bill Belichick bringing Gio Lopez, 3 more Tar Heels to ACC Kickoff
