Two Tar Heels to New York Jets in USA TODAY Sports' NFL Mock Draft
Several hundred young men will have their childhood dreams realized on Thursday, April 23, which kicks off the NFL Draft. The UNC football team doesn't have any top-ranked prospects for this year's Draft, but there's still a couple guys projected to play at the next level. Cornerbacks Marcus Allen and Thaddeus Dixon , two of North Carolina's top 2025 defenders, are both in USA TODAY Sports' 2026 NFL Mock Draft. Dixon is mocked 179th overall (sixth round) to the New York Jets , while Allen goes 242nd overall (seventh round), also to the New York Jets. In a college football world dominated by the transfer portal, Allen played all four seasons as a Tar Heel, rising to become a key member of the secondary. Allen totaled 136 tackles (100 solo), 22 pass deflections (T-career-high 8 in 2025), and three interceptions during his time in Chapel Hill. Dixon entered UNC as one of the top, incoming 2025 transfers , coming over from the Washington Huskies with defensive co...