University of North Carolina Athletics
FB Notes: Terry Selected To Senior Bowl
October 29, 2003 | Football
Oct. 29, 2003
University of North Carolina senior offensive guard Jeb Terry has been selected to the 2003 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., head coach John Bunting announced on Tuesday. The Senior Bowl will be played on January 24 and will be televised by ESPN.
"I was very proud to be invited to the Senior Bowl," Terry said. "Coach (John) Bunting and coach (Hal) Hunter have done a lot for me and have made me a better player. They did a great job persuading the people in the right places that I'm deserving to be in the Senior Bowl. I'm really excited for the opportunity and I hope to represent Carolina well."
A native of Dallas, Texas, Terry has been Carolina's most consistent lineman this season and was recently named the Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance at Clemson. Terry graded out at 90 percent against the Tigers, had 10 knockdown blocks and zero missed assignments. He anchored an offensive line that helped pave the way for Carolina's best rushing day in nine years. The Tar Heels had 287 yards rushing at Clemson, the most since 1994.
"I think Jeb is very deserving," said Bunting. "I think it is good for our football program to have our players playing in postseason all-star games. I think people notice that. I think recruits notice that we are doing a great job getting our players placed in these games."
This is the third consecutive year Carolina has been represented in the Senior Bowl. Defensive tackle Ryan Sims was selected in 2001 and wide receiver Sam Aiken made the team in 2002.
After rushing for just under 100 yards per game (97.3) in the first five games, Carolina has rushed for an average of 213.3 yards in the last three. Overall, Carolina is now fifth in the league, averaging 140.8 yards per game. However, Carolina's 4.3 yards per carry ranks first in the conference. Carolina has rushed for 1,126 yards on 263 attempts, the fewest carries in the league.
The Tar Heels rushed for 189 yards in a 28-17 victory at East Carolina, 164 yards in a 33-31 loss to Arizona State and a season-high 287 yards in a loss at Clemson. The 287 yards rushing against Clemson are the most for the Tar Heels since gaining 335 yards against Maryland in 1994, a span of nine years.
In the last three games, Carolina has used two tailbacks exclusively in the backfield instead of a fullback. It is an offense that the Tar Heels first began using against Syracuse.
Chad Scott, a junior transfer tailback from Kentucky, has been a bright spot on the offense since he was given a bigger role in the offense beginning at East Carolina. He is averaging 82.9 all-purpose yards in the last three games and has had at least 100 all-purpose yards in two of the last three games. He had 103 yards in the win at ECU, including 40 yards rushing on 10 carries and 63 yards receiving on three receptions. He also scored his first career touchdown at UNC on an 8-yard run against the Pirates. Against Arizona State, he carried three times for 18 yards and caught one pass for 27 yards. Last week at Clemson, Scott led the team with 73 yards rushing and caught four passes for 27 yards.
Defensive back Michael Waddell is leading the nation in kickoff returns with a 31.3-yard average. Waddell has 10 returns for 319 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown return against Wisconsin on the game's opening kick. Waddell also would be leading the ACC in punt returns with a 14.9-yard average, but does not have the minimum number of returns to qualify. He has returned eight punts for 119 yards this season.
