UNC Football Position Preview 2019: Defensive Secondary Posted Aug 20, 2019 Any conversation about Tar Heel cornerbacks has to start with Patrice Rene. Last season, he was one of a few players rotating as the number two cornerback behind K.J. Sails to start the year. Sails got hurt and Rene stepped up as a consistent starter. Sails has since transferred to USF to be closer to family, and Rene enters the year as the No. 1 cornerback. (Tar Heel Blog)