Bill Belichick has his sights set on a former Penn State wide receiver in the transfer portal

Redshirt junior Harrison Wallace III developed into Penn State’s No. 1 wide receiver in 2024, catching 46 passes for 720 yards and four touchdowns, but after a zero-catch performance from the Nittany Lion’s entire wide receiver room in the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal, both he and WR2 Omari Evans entered the transfer portal. Now, Wallace is beginning to zero in on his potential landing spots and one of them is with future Hall of Fame head coach Bill Belichick at North Carolina. 

Harrison Wallace III set to visit Louisville, North Carolina, Texas A&M, and South Carolina

North Carolina is looking to flip its roster under Belichick and GM Michael Lombardi, but the duo hasn't landed many big-name transfers. Wallace may be the most high profile addition that the Tar Heels make this offseason if he lands in Chapel Hill. This is a difficult offseason to turnover a roster because of the surprisingly high retention rates across the country as programs get better at NIL, and it's particularly difficult for Belichick because of the uncertainty surrounding his future.

While rumors continue to swirl that Belichick could return to the NFL as soon as this hiring cycle, North Carolina has added 16 incoming transfers and could use a productive player like Wallace who could thrive in the ACC. That also makes Louisville a compelling fit under head coach Jeff Brohm. 

Brohm is one of the best play callers in the country and there Wallace would pair with Caullin Lacy as Miller Moss’s top targets, a recipe for high-level production. 

A Montgomery, Alabama native, Wallace spent much of his career in Happy Valley battling injuries before his breakout season in 2024, which was facilitated by the transfer departure of KeAndre Lambert-Smith to Auburn and the hiring of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki last offseason. However, his struggles against Notre Dame and Ohio State led James Franklin to pluck two wide receivers out of the portal, Kyron Hudson from USC and Devonte Ross from Troy. 

Despite underwhelming performance against top Big Ten and CFP competition, Wallace has surprisingly drawn some SEC interest, though not as a WR1. He may become the top target at Louisville or UNC, but Texas A&M has already made significant splashes at wide receiver in the transfer portal, which could allow Wallace to thrive without the attention of a No. 1. 

The Aggies and second-year head coach Mike Elko have already added KC Concepcion from NC State, one of the top wide receivers on the market this offseason, and Micah Hudson, a former five-star who got off to a shaky start at Texas Tech as a true freshman in 2024. Wallace would likely be WR3 for rising sophomore QB Marcel Reed in College Station. 

If he lands at South Carolina, Wallace would likely play second-fiddle to track star Nyck Harbor for quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who will enter 2025 as one of the Heisman Trophy favorites.