UNC Spring Camp Position Breakdown: Tight ends

North Carolina began spring camp two weeks ago, and one of its most revamped position groups is the tight end room.

Only two tight ends return from last season, with most of the others either graduating or entering the transfer portal. In response, North Carolina turned to the portal to add experience and depth. Unlike last year, when it brought in players with limited snaps or from smaller programs, Bill Belichick and his staff added three tight ends who logged reliable playing time at Power Four schools.

Here is a look at the tight ends on UNC’s spring roster.

Jaxxon Warren, R-Soph. (6-8, 245)

Aug 30, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Colorado State Rams tight end Jaxxon Warren (19) reacts after catching a touchdown pass against the Washington Huskies during the third quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Jaxxon Warren was the first of three tight ends North Carolina added from the transfer portal.

Warren, who arrived from Colorado State, might be the most athletically gifted offensive player, let alone tight ends. At 6-foot-8 and 255 pounds, he spent two seasons with the Rams but was limited by injuries. As a freshman in 2024, he underwent surgery on both shoulders, missed the entire year and redshirted.

After recovering from injuries, Warren appeared poised for a breakout season in 2025. In the opener, he caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown against Washington and then added one catch for 16 yards the next week. However, a foot injury in that second game put him in a walking boot and ultimately ended his season.

Before Colorado State, Warren played nine games at Navarro College in Texas, where he caught 17 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns. At Marcus High School in Texas, he was a first-team all-district quarterback and threw for more than 2,400 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior.

Jordan Washington, R-Soph. (6-4, 264)

Nov 15, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Texas Longhorns tight end Jordan Washington (84) drops a pass in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Jordan Washington arrives at UNC with three years of eligibility remaining — the most of any transfer tight end — and brings limited but reliable Power Five production to Chapel Hill. He spent two seasons at Texas, appearing in all 12 games last year with two starts and finishing with seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.

A 6-foot-4, 264-pound Houston native, Washington committed to the Longhorns in the 2024 recruiting class as a four-star. He played high school football at Langham Creek in Texas.

Jelani Thurman, R-Jr. (6-6, 250)

Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Jelani Thurman (15) runs past Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Kaj Sanders (5) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2025. Ohio State won 42-9.

Jelani Thurman was another tight end the Tar Heels added from the transfer portal. He comes to Chapel Hill from Ohio State, where he appeared in 34 games from 2023 to 2025 and caught 13 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns over three seasons. Last year, he had seven receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Shamar Easter, R-Jr. (6-5, 215)

Easter did not receive much playing time in 2025, with only 53 total snaps across seven games. However, he did earn two starts against Syracuse and Wake Forest.

Deems May, R-Sr. (6-2, 230)

May missed the 2025 season due to injury but when he played, he was a valuable member of the special teams. His only start was in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in 2023.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Football: Breakdown of tight ends with spring camp underway