Boise State linebacker Andrew Simpson commits to North Carolina out of transfer portal

Boise State linebacker Andrew Simpson has committed to play for North Carolina out of the NCAA transfer portal. He told On3’s Hayes Fawcett of his plans on Wednesday afternoon.

Simpson had a productive career for the Broncos, contributing heavily for the past three seasons. He appeared in 40 games during that span. In 2024, his last season before transferring, Simpson logged 46 tackles, 11.0 tackles for a loss, 3.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and a pass defended. And that wasn’t even his most productive year.

A year prior, Simpson totaled even bigger numbers. He finished 2023 with 66 tackles, 16.0 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and four passes defended.

Given the production, it’s easy to see how Bill Belichick would have wanted to add Simpson to the roster. In three years with the Broncos, Simpson tallied 141 tackles, 32.0 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a blocked kick, three interceptions and eight passes defended.

Prior to enrolling at Boise State, Simpson was a fairly lightly recruited prospect out of California. He checked in as a three-star player, ranked the No. 1,020 overall recruit in the nation in his class by the On3 Industry Rankings.

Simpson also checked in as the No. 103 linebacker in his class. Meanwhile, he was the No. 82 overall player from the state of California in his class, hailing from Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco. The newest addition for North Carolina arrives at a desperate position of need. It also perhaps answers the biggest question ESPN analyst Pete Thamel had for Belichick’s Tar Heels this offseason.

“Here’s what I would say: Forget everything to do with the things that have been focused on the last few weeks,” Thamel said. “To me, Cole, the thing that’s not going well is that the two best players in the program transferred out post-spring: Beau Atkinson and Amare Campbell.

“Beau Atkinson went to Ohio State, Amare Campbell went to Penn State. They were the two leaders in TFLs, leaders of the defense.”

Atkinson tallied 35 tackles, 12.0 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks last season. Campbell notched 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two passes defended.

Suffice it to say, replacing players like that won’t be easy. But that’s what Andrew Simpson will be charged with, in part.