UNC Football lands transfer safety from rival ACC school

Christmas is a day where presents are exchanged, as the UNC football program received a gift in the form of a transfer commitment.

Former NC State safety Jakeen Harris announced that he will flip to the other side of the rivalry, as he'll join the Tar Heels for his final season of collegiate eligibility.

Harris, a 5-foot-10, 200-pounder from Savannah, Georgia, was a member of the NC State football program for five seasons. After suffering a season-ending injury in the season opener, Harris was forced to miss the rest of the 2023 season, allowing him to redshirt to be able to compete in 2024.

Earlier this month, Harris reportedly took a visit to Chapel Hill, as he decided that his next stop won't be far from his first stop. Along with the UNC football program, schools, such as Cincinnati and Virginia Tech, pursued the former three-star prospect.

Over his Wolfpack career, Harris played in 47 games, making 21 starts. He totaled 166 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and four interceptions over his time with the Wolfpack.

After a strong sophomore season in 2020, Harris looked to be on the verge of becoming a star for NC State. However, Harris' production took a dip over the following two seasons, as he was unable to match that level he reached as a rising sophomore.

The Tar Heels were active in his recruitment the first time around, as it shouldn't be a surprise that Mack Brown and company tried to recruit him once again. Unlike the first time, the second attempt worked, as Harris will look to help repair a secondary that has struggled over the past few seasons.

With the addition of Harris, the UNC football program has now brought in four transfers within this transfer portal window. Over the next few weeks, expect the Tar Heels to add to that number as they look for immediate replacements for some of their key losses that they've suffered so far this offseason.

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