North Carolina A&T University football alumnus Mac McCain has signed on to play for the Carolina Panthers.

McCain makes his return to North Carolina after being released by the Detroit Lions in May.

The cornerback entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2021 and later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a waiver claim, playing in two games for them during his rookie season. McCain returned to the Broncos later in the 2021 season and then rejoined the Eagles as a member of their practice squad for the last two seasons, according to NBC Sports.

To make room for McCain, the Panthers waived cornerback Colby Richardson.

McCain, a Greensboro native is now returning to his home state, where he was N.C. A&T standout.

His accolades include two first-team All-MEAC selections, a second-team All-MEAC honor, multiple All-American FCS honors, and a sophomore All-American nod from Hero Sports as well as All-American honors from the Associated Press, Phil Steele Magazine and BoxToRow.

He is also well known because of his family’s historic legacy at N.C. A&T as he is the grandson of the late Franklin McCain, one of the four N.C. A&T students who were a part of the famous 1960 Woolworth lunch-counter sit-in protest, known as the Greensboro Four.