After losing its core of secondary members due to graduation: Thaddeus Dixon, Marcus Allen, Gavin Gibson and Will Hardy, along with the loss of three additional players at the position via the transfer portal, the UNC football program needed to find guys to help fill the void as incoming transfers.
The Tar Heels have found a guy they think can be a piece to the puzzle, as they've secured a commitment from former Michigan State defensive back Ade Willie.
More on Ade Willie
Willie spent four seasons at Michigan State, appearing in 30 total games. This past season, the Baltimore, Maryland native appeared in the first four games of the season before sitting out the rest of the season, looking to redshirt and preserve his final season of eligibility.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder started each game he played in this season and ended the year as a starter for the Spartans at cornerback, finishing his time at Michigan State with 34 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass breakup.
What this means for UNC
Willie likely factors in at one of the two safety positions, but could definitely fill in at cornerback if needed during his final season of college eligibility.
North Carolina will likely aim to add more talent in the secondary over the next few weeks, having their eyes set on a handful of options that have become available.
Transfer Portal Tracker
With the addition of Willie, the UNC football program has now secured 9 transfer portal commitments during this cycle. More moves are likely to come, as North Carolina has plenty of holes they would like to address by acquiring some veteran talent, especially amongst the secondary unit on the defensive side of the football.
Click here to keep up with all the latest news and updates on North Carolina's transfer portal additions and subtractions.