Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Re-Sign Two Promising Defensive Players

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The Tar Heels are not only hosting transfer portal targets but they are re-signing key pieces to their roster, as well.

As stated in a release from the Tar Heel program, cornerback Jaiden Patterson and defensive lineman Leroy Jackson have agreed to return to the team for next year. These are the second and third Tar Heels to re-sign with the program today, joining running back Demon June. Like June, the details of these new deals have not been publicly released.

Patterson is set to return to Chapel Hill after a sophomore season where he became a full-time starter following the injury to Thaddeus Dixon in the Clemson game. In 473 snaps across twelve games, Patterson registered 34 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, an interception and five pass breakups. In coverage, he was targeted 38 times and allowed 25 of those to be caught for 259 yards and a touchdown while allowing just a 74.3 quarterback rating while being targeted.

Jackson is coming off a strong season of his own at defensive tackle for the team as part of the four rotation at the position. In 12 games this season, he played 368 snaps and collected 37 total tackles and

This is another big retention for the Tar Heel staff, especially in a defensive backfield that has just been ravaged by graduations this offseason. Patterson is a young player that has plenty of potential to build off of what he did this season and become one of the better corners in the ACC. With him and June now officially back in the fold, the attention now turns to the decisions for other key contributors headlined by Jordan Shipp and Melkart Abou-Jaoude.