This weekend was a big one for the Tar Heels as they hosted a huge group of unofficial visitors that hailed from future recruiting cycles, mainly the 2025 and 2026 classes. However, this was also a big weekend for transfer targets, as the Tar Heels hosted two former Ohio State players for official visits. On Monday night, the Tar Heels picked up a commitment from one of those two visitors as they continue to try to add a couple of pieces to this 2022 Tar Heel roster.
Just a short time ago, sophomore defensive back Lejond Cavazos announced via social media that he was committing to Carolina following his visit to campus over the weekend. Cavazos, a former 4✮ cornerback in the 2020 recruiting class, was one of the more sought-after members of this portal cycle, reportedly hearing from as many as 55 schools according to Pete Thamel of ESPN who initially broke the story of Cavazos’ transfer. In the end, it came down to the Tar Heels and Colorado, a school that he took an official visit to earlier this month after he entered the portal back on May 4th. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Cavazos redshirted in his first season with the Buckeyes program back in 2020 after playing in just one game, but as a redshirt freshman, he played in eleven of the team’s thirteen games, registering eight total tackles and two pass deflections in a backup role, one that he was reportedly battling to hold on to according to Andrew Lind who covers the Buckeyes for Sports Illustrated. Cavazos leaves Columbus having played 111 defensive snaps in his two seasons there.
The Tar Heel staff certainly did their part in recruiting Cavazos to transfer in, but a lot of credit has to be given here to Tar Heel basketball forward Armando Bacot. Bacot, who as many Tar Heel fans know is returning to Carolina for his senior season on the hardwood, began a push to get Cavazos to Chapel Hill the minute his former IMG Academy classmate and “Bestfriend” entered the portal. Bacot met up with Cavazos yesterday along with football head coach Mack Brown and current Tar Heel cornerback Tony Grimes and posted this photo on social media, urging his friend to make the move.
Cavazos, who played corner at Ohio State, is listed as a defensive back in the article posted about his commitment earlier this evening on the team’s official website, raising some questions as to where exactly he might play. It’s no secret that the Tar Heels are in need of help at safety and that was a position that Cavazos did play at IMG, meaning he could get a real look there. If he is to stay at corner, he will likely assume the role that was held by Kyler McMichael over the last two seasons as a rotational guy that would battle returning starters Tony Grimes and Storm Duck for snaps, both guys that will be looking to improve upon their rollercoaster 2021 seasons. Either way, Cavazos will have a good chance to come in and earn some significant snaps early.
His commitment is the first one since the conclusion of spring practice and likely won’t be the last now that the staff has gotten a solid idea of what this roster will look like come the fall. Fellow Ohio State transfer Jacolbe Cowan just visited this weekend and the Tar Heels will likely be a serious contender in his recruitment and the belief is that the team will also be a strong player in the recruitment of transfer receivers.