Offensive lineman Cameron Dillard, a graduate transfer from Florida, has picked North Carolina over Arizona.
The Tar Heels and Wildcats were the finalists for the Gators’ former starting center. He told CarolinaBlue, North Carolina’s 247Sports website, that he’s headed to Chapel Hill.
According to the report, Dillard was “leaning” toward Arizona (which he visited last month) before taking a vacation with his wife during which he apparently changed his mind.
"I thought about things, and it worked out," Dillard told CarolinaBlue. "UNC has a really good plan for me. They've sent four offensive linemen to the NFL in the last four years.”
North Carolina lost three-year starting center Lucas Crowley, giving Dillard a clear path to a first-team job. At Arizona, Dillard would have had to compete with returning starter Nathan Eldridge, or one of the two would have had to move to left guard.
Meanwhile, the UA is in the mix for another graduate transfer, former LSU quarterback Brandon Harris.
Harris has plans to visit three schools, including Arizona, according to a report in The Advocate of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The three are North Carolina, Texas and Arizona.
Harris started 15 games for the Tigers before losing his job early last season. He completed 53.9 percent of his passes at LSU with a 20-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also rushed for 370 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 3.8 yards per attempt.
Arizona has had luck with former LSU quarterbacks before. Jerrard Randall transferred to the UA and played for the Wildcats in 2014 and ’15. He accounted for 1,220 yards and 10 touchdowns as a part-time player in 2015.
If he picked Arizona, Harris would have to compete with incumbent Brandon Dawkins and sophomore Khalil Tate. At worst, Harris would provide veteran depth at a position that was hit hard by injuries last season. Arizona also has two incoming freshman quarterbacks in Rhett Rodriguez and K’Hari Lane.
North Carolina is looking to replace NFL-bound QB Mitchell Trubisky. Texas returns Shane Buechele, who started as a true freshman last season.
