Firenze Red Lions sign American defensive back Jakeen Harris
The Firenze Red Lions have signed their first American defensive player ahead of the 2026 season. Defensive back Jakeen Harris brings a wealth of college experience from two of the top programs in the United States.
A long career in college football
Harris spent five years at NC State before transferring to the University of North Carolina for his graduate season. At NC State he appeared in 48 games, starting 22, and built an impressive resume with 166 tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. His time with the Wolfpack was unfortunately interrupted in 2023 when a season-ending injury cut his year short after just two games.
A strong final college season
Harris made the most of his graduate year at North Carolina. He was a consistent presence in the defense, leading the team in tackles on multiple occasions. His best individual performance came when he recorded a career-high 11 tackles alongside his first two pass breakups of the season. He also surpassed 100 career tackles during the campaign, a milestone that underlines his experience and reliability in the secondary.
Joining a talented defensive group
Harris will not be the only experienced international player in the Red Lions‘ defensive unit. He joins Hungarian defensive back Szabolcs Szöllösi, Panamanian linebacker Ezra Drakes and Finnish defensive lineman Samuel Leppänen, giving Firenze a diverse and talented group in the secondary.
With Harris now on board, the Firenze Red Lions are building a defensive unit with serious international experience ahead of their debut season.
