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UNC Football: Top 10 Tar Heels selected in NFL Draft since 1980

By John Ellis

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 10: Detail photo of a North Carolina Tar Heels helmet during their game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Kenan Stadium on October 10, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 56-45. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 10: Detail photo of a North Carolina Tar Heels helmet during their game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Kenan Stadium on October 10, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 56-45. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Sep 16, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers (90) tackles Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers (90) tackles Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Julius Peppers (No. 2 overall, 2002 NFL Draft)

Finishing his UNC Football career in 2001, Julius Peppers will go down as one of the most dominant defensive players in history. Peppers led the nation with 15 sacks during his sophomore season and earned first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American honors. Following his junior season in 2001, he was a first-team All-ACC selection and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.

He won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player, the Lombardi Award as the best collegiate lineman and the Bill Willis Trophy as the nation’s best defensive lineman. In the three seasons at North Carolina, Peppers started 33 of 34 games. He is currently ranked second all-time in UNC history with 30.5 sacks. He had 53 stops behind the line of scrimmage, 167 tackles, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles, 13 passes deflected, and 42 quarterback pressures and returned two interceptions and a fumble recovery for touchdowns. He would also play for the Men’s basketball team that made it to the Final Four. He decided to leave the UNC Football program after his junior year to pursue a career in the NFL.

His impact on a NFL field was felt immediately and would last throughout his entire 17-year career spent with the Panthers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and a another stint with the Carolina Panthers.

Peppers started his career by winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2002. He was a three- time First Team All-Pro as well as a three time Second Team All-Pro. He was selected to the Pro-Bowl on nine separate occasions. He is a member of both the 2000’s and 2010’s All Decade Team as well as one of the top 100 Bears of all time.

He would retire after the 2018 season with 715 tackles, 159.5 sacks, 79 pass deflections and 11 interceptions. He would also force 55 fumbles and score six touchdowns.

This brings us now to the number one draft pick in the last 40 years of UNC Football and that player is none other than …

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