Tar Heels Land Big Offensive Lineman Transfer Shaq McRoy: 'I Wanted to Follow Petrino'

North Carolina has added another transfer offensive lineman, receiving a commitment Friday from former Arkansas tackle Shaq McRoy, who reunites with former Arkansas offensive coordinator and interim coach Bobby Petrino in Chapel Hill.

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“I wanted to follow Petrino,” McRoy told Inside Carolina in exclusive comments on Friday morning. “The pro-style and Coach [Bill] Belichick. And then the whole staff are mostly [New England] Patriots, so that’s the most NFL you could get in college. I just felt that from a developmental standpoint, this was the best choice for me.”

The 6-foot-8, 344-pound redshirt-sophomore from Bessemer, Ala. played in six games and made one start this past season for the Razorbacks, totaling 58 offensive snaps, primarily at right tackle.

McRoy actually recorded a rushing touchdown, scoring from one-yard out at Notre Dame in September.

“He gave me a touchdown,” McRoy said, referencing that score. “So what offensive lineman won’t want to play for an offensive coordinator who’s handing you the ball.”

McRoy spent the 2024 season at Oregon, where he redshirted. He has three years of eligibility. He was a consensus four-star prospect and Under Armour All-American out of Clay-Chalkville High School.

He is the third offensive line commitment for North Carolina out of the transfer portal this offseason, joining Charleston Southern’s Andrew Threatt and Baylor’s Sean Thompkins.

North Carolina is looking to completely rebuild its offensive line this offseason. The Tar Heels are losing at least eight offensive linemen from their 2025 roster. Eidan Buchanan (1), Aidan Banfield (4) and Jordan Hall (4) are the only offensive linemen who have started games that are set to return next season.

UNC Transfer Portal Commitments

1. QB Billy Edwards (Jan. 4) – Wisconsin
   Maryland starter in ’04, missed most of ’05 with knee injury
2. OL Andrew Threatt (Jan. 4) – Charleston Southern
   Versatile all-conference lineman with 23 consecutive starts
3. TE Jaxxon Warren (Jan. 4) – Colorado State
   Six-foot-eight target had seven catches in two games before season-ending injury
4. DL Tarvorise Brown (Jan. 5) – Florida
   Appeared in three games in reserve role last season
5. DE Jaylen Harvey (Jan. 5) – Penn State
   Former four-star prospect saw 159 snaps as a RS-freshman
6. WR Trech Kekahuna (Jan. 5) – Wisconsin
   Recorded 55 catches for 614 yards in Badger career
7. OL Sean Thompkins (Jan. 6) – Baylor
   Played 460 snaps at tackle last season
8. DB Ade Willie (Jan. 6) – Michigan State
   Started four games in ’25 before redshirting
9. QB Miles O’Neill (Jan. 6) – Texas A&M
   Appeared in seven games in reserve in ’25, recruited to TAMU by Petrino
10. LB Peyton Seelmann (Jan. 6) – Richmond
    Finished regular season Top 10 nationally in tackles
11. WR Mason Humphrey (Jan. 8) – Lehigh
    Had 35 catches for 650 yards as junior
12. OL Shaq McRoy (Jan. 9) – Arkansas
    Played in six games and one start, totaling 58 offensive snaps, at right tackle.