The North Carolina Tar Heels are infamously known for having one of the worst defenses in college football.
UNC’s defense improved slightly through 12 regular-season games under Geoff Collins, generating a significant increase in pressure, but continuing to allow eye-popping yardage totals.
With North Carolina losing one of its starters – and best defensive players – to graduation next year, it needs to quickly replenish.
The Tar Heels took a step towards filling that starting hole by offering Marshall University redshirt sophomore cornerback Jacobie Henderson, a North Carolina native from Charlotte, who moved into a starting role for the Thundering Herd in 2024.
According to Henderson’s 247Sports recruiting profile, he was the Class of 2022’s 14th-ranked player in South Carolina. Henderson played his high school ball at Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill, SC.
Henderson helped Marshall to a 10-3 (7-1) record this season, its first-ever Sun Belt Conference Championship and a Sun Belt East Division Title. The Thundering Herd will face 19th-ranked Army, in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 9:15 p.m. ET.
UNC offered pic.twitter.com/3In5HVTUTG
— Jacobie “HOLLYWOOD” Henderson (@cobieh10) December 10, 2024
Through 12 regular season games and one conference championship, Henderson has two interceptions and 10 pass breakups (both second-most on Marshall), 50 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
If UNC is able to land Henderson, he’ll likely start alongside junior Marcus Allen at cornerback. Alijah Huzzie, an electric punt returner who is arguably the Tar Heels’ top secondary player, is a senior and will graduate in May.
Looking at the rest of North Carolina’s secondary depth chart, it will return five cornerbacks and three safeties. A team can never have too many secondary pieces, so a commitment from Henderson would a big get.
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