Latest news with #TravisBurgess
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC football QB commit upgraded to four star ahead of senior season
UNC football QB commit upgraded to four star ahead of senior season Just a few weeks ago, North Carolina secured a commitment from its first quarterback in the Class of 2026. Travis Burgess hails from Loganville, Georgia, where he plays at Grayson High School. Burgess was a three-star quarterback at the time of his commitment, but he has since been on the rise. Now, according to Burgess has entered the four-star category. They have him as the No. 27 best QB in the class and the No. 58 best player in the state. 247Sports still has Burgess as a three-star with a composite three-star as well, but it is only time before he gets a star there as well. He is on the upper end of the three-star recruits with an 89 overall rating and an .8844 composite rating. Andrew Ivins from 247 Sports had this to say about Burgess's future: "Ascending dual-threat quarterback with rare size and athleticism for the position that guided one of the Peach State's most talent-rich programs to a championship in his first year as a full-time starter. Built for the RPO game with his lower-body twitch and dynamic movements as a runner. Might not own the highest completion percentage, but a deep dive of the junior tape reveals an evolving passer that can change speeds and throw with anticipation to the second level." Burgess now joins defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin as the two lone four-star recruits in the class for Bill Belichick and North Carolina. They have 12 other three-star recruits, with five of them a 247Sports 88-rating or better. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Bill Belichick's North Carolina contract changes on June 1. What does it mean?
Soon after North Carolina hired six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick in December, an interesting, and possibly significant, date emerged: June 1. That's when Belichick's buyout drops by $9 million if he were to leave the Tar Heels on his own. At the time, the contractual provision looked like a potential escape valve if the former New England Patriots head coach wanted to return to the NFL. After an offseason of watching his personal life overshadow his professional life in his first foray into college coaching, the speculation has taken a different turn, making the subject worth revisiting. Advertisement Though fans typically think of buyouts going to coaches who get fired without cause — like Texas A&M owing Jimbo Fisher more than $70 million by canning him in 2023 — the payouts work both ways. When Belichick signed his formal UNC contract in January, he agreed to pay the Tar Heels $10 million in liquidated damages if he chose to exit. On Sunday, that figure drops to $1 million, owed within 180 days. It remains $1 million through the rest of the five-year contract. To be clear, he has given no indication that he's looking to quit. This month, his Tar Heels picked up a pair of non-binding oral commitments in the 2026 class, including Travis Burgess, the No. 30 quarterback in the 247Sports composite rankings. But the fact that the 73-year-old Belichick was new to the college game and recruiting led to questions about whether he'd want to return to the pros. He needs only 15 NFL victories to pass Don Shula for the most in league history. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady reached out to Belichick about Las Vegas' coaching vacancy in January, before Belichick and UNC finalized their contract. Since then, Belichick's girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, has become one of the biggest figures of the offseason. Belichick has said he has personal and professional relationships with the 24-year-old. They have intersected at times, including when he asked the Tar Heels to copy her on emails. Hudson shot down a question from CBS to Belichick about how they met with a now-famous line: 'We're not talking about this.' If Belichick and/or Hudson is unhappy with the situation surrounding his Tar Heels tenure and the media circus, the decreased buyout makes it more manageable for him to walk away. It's common for buyouts like Belichick's to decrease over time, regardless of whether they'll be paid by the school (if a coach is fired for cause) or the coach (if he leaves for another job). For example, UCF's Scott Frost — another coach hired this cycle — would owe the Knights $6.5 million if he left before July 2026. The figure drops by $1 million annually. Advertisement Ryan Day would owe Ohio State $6 million if he quit today. The buyout falls to $4 million on Feb. 1 and dwindles to $0 in February 2031 under the new contract he and the school signed earlier this year. Belichick's contract runs through the 2029 calendar year. Belichick makes $10 million annually ($1 million in base pay, $9 million in supplemental pay). The first three years are fully guaranteed if the school fires him without cause before the end of 2027. There is no buyout specified after that. On-field bonuses range from $150,000 for winning eight regular-season games to $1.75 million for a national championship.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN examines Auburn's need for a quarterback in 2026 recruiting cycle
ESPN examines Auburn's need for a quarterback in 2026 recruiting cycle Will Auburn still actively pursue a 2026 quarterback after missing on Travis Burgess? Auburn missed out on three-star quarterback Travis Burgess on Wednesday as he announced his commitment to North Carolina over the Tigers. Where does Hugh Freeze and his staff turn now? Auburn has one of the top quarterback rooms in the SEC with Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold, Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels, and true freshman Deuce Knight. Still, it does not hurt to plan for the future. ESPN recently identified Auburn as one of the five programs actively recruiting quarterbacks in the 2026 recruiting cycle. The list, pieced together by Eli Lederman, points out that Knight is likely the future at the position, but identifies two quarterbacks currently at the top of Auburn's hot board. (Deuce) Knight, No. 40 in the 2025 ESPN 300, is viewed as a future starter at Auburn. But his arrival has not kept the program from pursuing quarterbacks in the 2026 class. The Tigers hosted (Jaden) O'Neal, the Oklahoma pledge, for a visit earlier this spring and stand among the challengers to Ole Miss in the chase for (Landon) Duckworth, who will take his official to Auburn on May 30. O'Neal pledged to Oklahoma nearly a year ago, but Auburn has remained active in their pursuit of him. The Tigers hosted O'Neal for a visit in April, where he praised the quarterback room and said he could see himself competing for the starting role on the Plains. O'Neal said in April that he planned to return for an official visit, but such a visit has yet to be scheduled at the time of this post. Jackson, Alabama, native Landon Duckworth is also a hot target. Duckworth visited Auburn last weekend and was recently invited to compete in the Elite 11 this summer. Auburn is the lone in-state program in the mix for Duckworth, but it is believed that Ole Miss and South Carolina are the two leaders heading into the summer. Although a quiet recruitment, Auburn is a top school for three-star quarterback Jackson Taylor of Thousand Oaks, California. On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine gives Auburn a 43.5% chance to land Taylor, who visited campus as recently as April 6. The quarterback position may not be the highest priority for Auburn this cycle, but Auburn fans can expect Hugh Freeze, Kent Austin, and the rest of the staff to continue recruiting the position as they continue to build Auburn into a College Football Playoff contender. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn football QB target Travis Burgess commits to ACC program
Auburn football QB target Travis Burgess commits to ACC program Auburn misses out on one of its top 2026 targets. Auburn football placed three-star quarterback Travis Burgess near the top of its 2026 recruiting board earlier this year. Sadly, Hugh Freeze and his staff will have to look elsewhere for a worthy quarterback candidate to sign this cycle. Burgess, a three-star quarterback from Loganville, Georgia, announced Wednesday that he has committed to North Carolina, choosing the Tar Heels over Auburn and NC State. Following his commitment, Burgess told Tom Loy of 247Sports that he is excited to be part of the new era of Tar Heel football. 'Coach (Bill) Belichick will turn this program around in the next year or two, and I want to be a part of that legacy and help turn it around," Burgess said. With his commitment, Burgess hopes to join the list of quality quarterbacks who have played in Chapel Hill recently. Since 2019, North Carolina quarterbacks have thrown over 2,400 yards and 15 touchdowns per season, with Sam Howell and Drake Maye producing most of the numbers. Howell passed for 10,283 yards and 92 touchdowns as a three-year starter, with Maye following suit with 7,929 yards and 63 touchdowns as a two-year starter. Last season, Jacolby Criswell led the Tar Heels with 2,459 yards and 15 touchdowns. Before Burgess arrives, Belichick will likely turn to South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez to lead the offense. Last season, Lopez passed for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Jaguars. What's next for Auburn? The Tigers will continue to heavily recruit Jackson (AL) quarterback Landon Duckworth. Duckworth visited Auburn last weekend, with Auburn being the only in-state school to lock in a visit with him. However, South Carolina and Ole Miss appear to be the frontrunners in his recruitment. The next name to watch is three-star quarterback Jackson Taylor from Thousand Oaks, California. According to On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine, Auburn is the frontrunner to land him with a 43.5% forecast. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Highly-touted Class of 2026 quarterback includes UNC amongst final three schools
The North Carolina Tar Heels, who have their 2025 football recruiting class solidified, are already on a good start to their 2026 class. UNC currently has 14 commitments in its 2026 group of recruits, headlined by in-state, 4-star defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin. Six of North Carolina's 14 commitments are on the offensive side of the football, six commitments are on defense, David Green is the lone kicker and Jaden Jefferson is the lone "Athlete." Advertisement The Tar Heels are missing one crucial part of their 2026 recruiting class: a quarterback. UNC previously had Zaid Lott's word, but he withdrew and later committed to Syracuse. Good news for North Carolina, though – there's another highly-touted quarterback who is giving Chapel Hill some serious consideration. On Tuesday, May 20, Rivals National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman reported Grayson High School (Loganville, Ga.) quarterback Travis Burgess named the Tar Heels amongst his final three choices. Burgess, 247Sports' 27th-ranked quarterback nationally and 44th-best available player in Georgia, is also considering UNC archrival NC State and the Auburn Tigers. 247Sports has a 100% Crystal Ball prediction for Burgess to land at Auburn. If North Carolina lands Burgess, he'll be throwing to the likes of fellow commits Darrion Kirksey and Kei'Maurii Miles (wide receivers), Cooper McCutchan (tight end) and running back Crew Davis. Advertisement Burgess still has an entire high school season to play. While the Tar Heels want a commitment from Burgess sooner than later, how they play this fall will likely play a major role in Burgess' decision. Who'll be slinging the rock for UNC in 2026? Bryce Baker will likely take the reigns from Max Johnson or Gio Lopez, but the crown jewel of North Carolina's 2025 recruiting class will need some backup. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football battling SEC program for QB Travis Burgess
