UNC Football: Top 10 Tar Heels Running Backs All-Time
No. 7: Natrone Means (1990-92)
Natrone Means was a work horse during his time at North Carolina. He’s tied for sixth-place for touchdowns scored by a UNC player (35). He has two top-10 performances by a UNC running back who rushed for the most yards in a single-game, including 249 yards vs. Maryland in 1992 and 256 yards vs. Duke in 1990.
Means is tied with two other players for most games over 200 yards rushing, with three.
He rushed for over 1,000 yards twice and ranks fourth in rushing attempts at UNC (605).
Means had an impressive 1994 NFL season when he was named to the league’s All-Pro team. He lead the Chargers with 1,350 yards and 12 touchdowns and helped lead them to Super Bowl XXIX, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 49-26.
Means was often referred to as “Refried” Means, though ESPN’s Chris Berman referred to him as “Natrone Means Business”. Means also had a good run with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.
No. 6: Kelvin Bryant (1979-82)
Kelvin Bryant is one of three UNC running backs to finish his college career with three 1,000 yard seasons; 1,039 in 1980, 1,015 in 1981 and 1,064 in 1982.
Bryant is tied for third-most touchdowns in a single season with 18 in 1981. He has the fourth-most touchdowns scored by any UNC player (38).
He holds the records for most touchdowns scored by a UNC player in a single game and most points scored in a single game (six touchdowns, 36 points against East Carolina in 1981). In addition, he ties with Marquise Williams for eighth-most points scored by a UNC player in a career (228 points).
Bryant was the 1983 MVP of the United States Football League (USFL). Moreover, he won a Super Bowl ring with the Washington Redskins when they defeated the Denver Broncos 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII.
No. 5: Giovani Bernard (2011-12)
Giovani Bernard is known for his game-winning punt return against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in 2012. He was a dynamic running back for UNC during his brief stay in Chapel Hill. Bernard red-shirted for the Tar Heels during his freshman season, thus accomplishing these feats in just two seasons with the Tar Heels.
He ranks second in most touchdowns in season with 19 in 2012 and ranked fourth nationally in all-purpose yards, despite missing two games due to injury (1,981 in 2012).
Bernard’s 2012 all-purpose yards ranks second all-time at UNC for single-season totals.
He had two 1,000 yard seasons (1,253 in 2011 and 1,228 in 2012). His 2011 season yard total ranks fourth in most yards in a single season (1,253 in 2011).
Currently, Bernard is a running back for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.