Keeping It Heel
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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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Defensive end Greg Ellis (98) of the Dallas Cowboys rushes the passer in a 28 to 21 loss to the Oakland Raiders on 10/7/01. ?Ron St. Angelo (Photo by Ron St. Angelo/Getty Images)
Defensive end Greg Ellis (98) of the Dallas Cowboys rushes the passer in a 28 to 21 loss to the Oakland Raiders on 10/7/01. ?Ron St. Angelo (Photo by Ron St. Angelo/Getty Images) /

Greg Ellis (No. 8 overall, 1998 NFL Draft)

After he completed his eligibility at UNC in 1997, finishing a college career that saw him named All-ACC for three consecutive seasons, Greg Ellis earned consensus first-team All-America honors and was a finalist for the Lombardi Award after collecting 62 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 38 quarterback pressures in his senior season. His 12.5 single season ranked second in school history at the time with only Lawrence Taylor’s 16 sack season in front of him. He graduated from UNC as the school’s all-time sack leader.

After being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, he would go on to play twelve seasons in the NFL. His final season coming in 2009 with the Oakland Raiders.

He became a starter in Dallas immediately while only missing seven games in a Cowboy uniform. He would be recognized as the Comeback Player of the Year after the 2007 season. A season that would also bring Pro-Bowl recognition after he recorded 12.5 sacks in only 13 games. He would score two touchdowns in his career, both in 1999. One was an interception return for 87 yards and the other was a fumble recovery that went for 98 yards. Ellis would go on to finish his career with 394 tackles, 84 sacks and four interceptions.

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