Demon June returns to North Carolina with a clear case for a bigger role. After leading UNC in rushing as a first-year player in 2025, the sophomore running back is set to remain a central part of a backfield that needs more consistency after the Tar Heels finished 14th among ACC teams in rushing yards last season.
June handled 84 carries for 464 yards last season and scored two rushing touchdowns while adding one receiving touchdown over 11 games. That was enough to lead North Carolina on the ground, even with some uneven stretches late in the year. His season included a 148-yard game at its peak, but it also featured games in which the production dipped.
For UNC, that combination makes June both encouraging and unfinished. The talent to be a reliable lead option was on display, but the challenge now is turning a sporadic freshman season into steadier weekly output. If he does that, North Carolina’s rushing attack should have a better chance to climb after a disappointing finish in the ACC standings.
Who is in the backfield with him?
North Carolina is not relying on June alone. Benjamin Hall finished as the Tar Heels’ second-leading rusher with 274 yards and two touchdowns on 71 carries, and the room also includes Kaleb Jackson, Jaylen McGill and Charleston French. Recruit Crew Davis is also part of the group, giving UNC a mix of returning production, experience and unproven upside.
Jackson comes in with some recent college usage as well, though his 2025 role at LSU was limited to seven carries for 16 yards across four games. That background gives North Carolina another option, but it also underscores how much of the room is still waiting for a clear separation.
That is why June matters so much. He is the most proven runner in the group, and his first season showed enough to suggest he can be more than just a piece of the rotation. If North Carolina is going to improve its ground game in 2026, June’s next step may be the biggest one in the room.
