Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Add Punter from the Portal

Eastern Illinois Football

For the second time today, the Tar Heels have dipped into the transfer portal, this time for what might be their punter this year.

According to multiple sources, the Tar Heels have landed Eastern Illinois transfer punter Jake Horvath. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Horvath started every game for Eastern Illinois each of the last two seasons. In 2023, as a freshman, he averaged 38.1 yards per punt on 55 punts with four of his kicks going 50 or more yards. This past year, as a sophomore, he was named a second team All-Big South/OVC after he averaged 44.3 yards per punt, landed twelve inside the 20 and booted 15 over 50 yards on his 54 punts.

This is a nice addition for the Tar Heels that gives Tom Maginness some legitimate competition this summer. Maginness, who has struggled in each of the past two seasons, came out of spring camp with the job after fending off Lucas Osada, but Horvath is talented enough to beat him out, something that the Tar Heels may ultimately need to take the next step with their punting.