University of North Carolina Athletics
Four Tar Heels Earn Pro Bowl
December 20, 2006 | Football
Dec. 19, 2006
Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- Four former University of North Carolina football players have been selected to the NFL Pro Bowl. Atlanta tight end Alge Crumpler, Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers and Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday are making return appearances, while Pittsburgh tailback Willie Parker earned his first trip to the Hawaii all-star game. Only Miami with six, had more former players selected to the Pro Bowl.
Parker leads the Steelers and ranks fifth in the NFL with 1,331 rushing yards on 287 attempts. He ranks fourth in the league with 14 touchdowns, including 11 rushing scores. Earlier this year, Parker set a single-game franchise record with 223 rushing yards in a 27-7 victory over Cleveland. Last season, he had a Super Bowl-record 75-yard touchdown run in the championship game win over Seattle.
Peppers earned his third consecutive invitation to the Pro Bowl after recording 71 tackles, 11 sacks, 32 quarterback pressures, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked field goals. He ranks third in the NFC and eighth in the NFL in sacks.
Crumpler, making his fourth straight appearance, leads the Falcons with 47 receptions for 677 yards and seven touchdowns.
Saturday earned his second straight Pro Bowl appearance. The ninth-year veteran has been considered one of the best centers in the game for several seasons.
NFL Pro Bowl Players
6, Miami (Fla.)
4, North Carolina
3, Southern California, Georgia, NC State
2, Oregon State, California, LSU, Purdue, Tennessee, TCU, Penn State, Texas, Oklahoma State, Maryland, Arizona, Clemson, Iowa, Florida State, Oklahoma, Virginia
