UNC Lands Ex-LSU QB Brandon Harris
Former LSU starting quarterback Brandon Harris is heading to North Carolina. The ex-Tiger will play for Larry Fedora's Tar Heels.
Former LSU starting quarterback Brandon Harris is heading to North Carolina. The ex-Tiger will play for Larry Fedora’s Tar Heels.
Brandon Harris has decided on where he will finish up his collegiate football career.
The former LSU starting quarterback is headed to North Carolina, which needs to find a new starter with Mitch Trubisky leaving early for the NFL Draft. Harris made the announcement via social media.
“Obviously, it has been an important time for me, looking for a great situation and another opportunity to grow as a young man and as a student as well as a football player,” Harris wrote. “The opportunity to accomplish that is very important to me. After my official visit this weekend to the University of North Carolina, I’m going to get that opportunity. With that being said, I’m fully committed to UNC this upcoming year and I look forward to the opportunity to play for coach Fedora and UNC.
“Thank you, to all of those who have kept me in your prayers and continue to do so. I have to say that I haven’t been this excited in a while and can’t do anything but thank God and my wonderful family for their continued support. #godbless #tarhealnation”
Harris had reportedly set up three official visits as he sought a new home for his final season of college football, with the Tar Heels, Texas and Arizona being his three options. However, the Chapel Hill visit was the only one with a set date. Obviously, Fedora and Co. made quite the sales pitch on Harris, who plans to graduate from LSU so he could play right away as a graduate transfer.
Choosing UNC makes a lot of sense because the team has very little experience returning at the position. Logan Byrd and Chazz Surratt both redshirted during their freshman season, and Nathan Elliott didn’t play much in backing up Trubisky. Harris will have a real chance to win the starting gig.
As the starter in Baton Rouge during the 2015 season, Harris threw for 2,165 yards and 13 touchdowns along with 226 rushing yards and four scores. Last season, however, he lost his job to Danny Etling after two inconsistent starts to begin the year.
Despite his uneven play in Baton Rouge, Harris has talent and a skill set that made him an intriguing player on the grad transfer market. He is a former 4-star recruit who has a nice arm and the legs to pick up yards when plays break down. While decision-making falls on the QB, former LSU head coach Les Miles and his offensive staff often didn’t put their QB in the best position to succeed.
Meanwhile, Fedora is an offensive mind that can perhaps help Harris thrive. UNC is a team filled with a lot of offensive skill, and Fedora’s system is friendly to most any quarterback who wins the job.
