University of North Carolina Athletics
Schmitz & Peppers Earn All-America Honors
December 7, 1999 | Football
Dec. 7, 1999
CHAPEL HILL -- University of North Carolina football players Brian Schmitz and Julius Peppers have earned All-America honors by The Sporting News (TSN). Schmitz, a senior punter from Park Ridge, Ill., was named a first-team All-America. Peppers, a red-shirt freshman defensive lineman from Bailey, N.C., was named to TSN's Freshman All-America first team.
Schmitz finished his Carolina career as the most productive punter in Atlantic Coast Conference history. In 1999, he averaged an ACC and UNC record 47.8 yards on 74 punts and his career average of 44.4 yards per kick is also a conference and school record. Of his 74 punts on the season, 62 went for 40 or more yards, including 32 of 50 or more yards. He dropped 18 inside the 20-yard line and had just 10 touchbacks. Schmitz had at least one 50-yard punt in all 11 games, at least one 60-yarder in four games and against Houston he kicked a career-long 72-yard punt. In addition, he helped UNC establish an NCAA single-season team record for punting average at 47.7 yards. Schmitz has been named a 1999 first-team All-ACC selection and was honored as a UNC team captain and most valuable player.
Peppers started all 11 games for the Tar Heels at defensive end and finished the season with a team-leading 10 tackles for loss and six sacks and tied for the UNC lead with eight quarterback pressures. Peppers' sack total was the sixth best in the ACC and he led all Carolina defensive lineman with 50 total tackles. Against Wake Forest Peppers played his finest game of the season, sacking Demon Deacon quarterback Ben Sankey four times and registering a season-high 10 tackles.
