For the second straight day, the Tar Heels have landed a former Ohio State player's commitment in the transfer portal.
Following his weekend visit to campus that concluded yesterday, defensive end Jacolbe Cowan announced via social media that he was transferring to Carolina just eight days after his name was officially entered into the portal. Cowan, a former 4✮ defensive tackle in the 2020 class, will come back to the state of North Carolina where he played his high school football at Providence Day School and will be reunuited with his high school teammate Kedrick Bingley-Jones who is currently a sophomore for this Tar Heel team.
In his two seasons with the Buckeyes, Cowan was never really able any sort of significant role on the defensive line. He redshirted in 2020 after a season-ending injury prior to the season and played in just five games in the 2021 season, registering three total tackles in 44 snaps. In high school, Cowan was a standout, though, finishing his high school career 216 total tackles, 54.0 tackles for loss and 34.0 sacks. He’ll hope to tap into that potential in Chapel Hill with his three years of remaining eligibility.
Cowan will have some work to do, though, as he will have the challenge of climbing a loaded defensive line depth chart. At 6’4, 275 lbs. he will likely get a look at the power end spot when he arrives to campus, which should give him a better chance to make an impact early. Junior Des Evans is the favorite to start at the power end spot and junior Kaimon Rucker could factor in here, as well, but the depth here is extremely thin overall. This addition could also allow Jahvaree Ritzie’s role to be more defined in the fall, but it will all depend on how quickly Cowan and Rucker, who missed the spring because of injury, can settle into the Gene Chizik defense.
With his commitment, the Tar Heels have now landed five transfer commitments this offseason, easily the biggest transfer class that they have brought in during the four years of the portal’s existence. The Tar Heels may not be done just yet, either.