Former Missouri and Nebraska linebacker Mikai Gbayor has committed to North Carolina.

Gbayor played four seasons at Nebraska under head coaches Scott Frost and Matt Rhule from 2021 through the 2024 campaign. He entered the transfer portal in December of 2024 and committed to Missouri on Dec. 16, 2024.

However, Gbayor was only in Columbia for a few months, as he entered the portal once again in April. Missouri lost co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach D.J. Smith to his alma mater, Appalachian State, shortly after Gbayor committed to the Tigers, which likely impacted his decision to reenter the portal.

Gbayor will have two years of eligibility remaining to spend with head coach Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels.

In 2024 with the Cornhuskers, Gbayor played in 12 games, including 11 starts. He recorded 49 total tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack and three pass break-ups.

According to Pro Football Focus, Gbayor played 375 defensive snaps for the Cornhuskers in 2024, and recorded an overall defensive grade of 72.1. He also saw 103 snaps on special teams.

In 25 career games with Nebraska, including 15 starts, Gbayor amassed 73 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three pass break-ups.

As a recruit in the class of 2021 out of Irvington High School, Gbayor was rated as a high-three-star inside linebacker prospect. He ranked as the No. 11 player in the state of New Jersey and the No. 20 inside linebacker in the cycle.

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The spring college football transfer portal window is scheduled to open on April 16, 2025 for 10 days. It is the second transfer window of the 2025 recruiting cycle. The winter college football transfer portal window opened on Dec. 9, 2024 for 20 days. There was also a five-day window for players to transfer after their team finished postseason play. Additionally, players get a 30-day window to transfer when their head coach leaves.