Defensive back Lejond Cavazos, who logged time with Ohio State in 2021, announced Monday he is transferring to the UNC football program.
The former four-star recruit made his announcement on Instagram, adding more depth to the Carolina secondary. Cavazos, who redshirted in 2020 and appeared in 11 games with the Buckeyes last season, recorded eight tackles and two pass break-ups as a redshirt freshman. The 6-foot, 192-pound defensive back has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
The San Antonio, Texas, native said in a release through Carolina Athletics that he’s excited to be joining the Tar Heels.
“Everything about being at North Carolina fit what I was looking for,” said Cavazos. “It’s a prestigious University, offering a great education, and the football program is on the rise. I’ve been able to build a strong bond with the coaching staff and you can see why people want to play for them. They’re excellent coaches, but even more important, they’re great men. I’ve also gotten to know some of the guys on the team, and I think I’ll be a good fit. I can’t wait to start this next chapter, get to Chapel Hill, and get to work with my new teammates.”
Cavazos becomes the fourth football player to transfer to the UNC program this offseason. Offensive linemen Corey Gaynor and Spencer Rolland, as well as linebacker Noah Taylor, shared their decisions during the winter. The transfer portal is still open for the 2022-23 athletics seasons, but closes for three months beginning Sunday, May 1.
During his final press conference of 2021, UNC head coach Mack Brown said the team would prioritize using the transfer portal to add players at “positions of need for us.”
“We don’t want to bring an average player in,” Brown said. “If we bring somebody in, he needs to be a contributor and a guy who could start.”
Cavazos now joins a defensive back room that includes rising juniors Tony Grimes, Ja’Qurious Conley and Storm Duck, as well as rising seniors Don Chapman, Cam’Ron Kelly, Giovanni Biggers and Obi Egbuna.
Cavazos also has a connection to another UNC athlete: men’s basketball star Armando Bacot. The pair become close friends at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida during high school. Bacot even posted on Twitter days ahead of Cavazos’ announcement, seemingly recruiting the defensive back to join Carolina.
The UNC football season begins on Saturday, August 27, when the Tar Heels host Florida A&M.
Photo via UNC Football.
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