University of North Carolina Athletics
Ten Former Tar Heels In NFL Playoffs
January 8, 2009 | Football
Jan. 8, 2009
Chapel Hill, N.C. ---- North Carolina is well represented in the 2009 NFL Playoffs with 10 former Tar Heels on a playoff roster. Of the teams that received byes last week, all four - Pittsburgh, Carolina, Tennessee and New York - have at least one Tar Heel on the squad. There are 24 Carolina players on NFL roster, placing UNC among the top 20 schools in producing current NFL players.
Madison Hedgecock is a bruising fullback for the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Hedgecock has been singled out by John Madden on Sunday Night Football for his superb blocking skills and is a major reason the Giants had two 1,000-yard rushers in 2008. Hedgecock, a native of Wallburg, N.C., and a product of Ledford High School, played fullback and defensive end at Carolina from 2001-04.
Julius Peppers, who was an All-America at UNC and won the Lombardi Trophy as the nation's most outstanding lineman, leads an opportunistic Carolina Panthers' defense. Peppers ranked fifth in the NFL with 14.5 sacks and earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection. Rookie defense end Hilee Taylor, who played from 2004-07 in Chapel Hill, has played well for the Panthers as a pass rush specialist.
Tennessee has a pair of Tar Heels, including linebacker David Thornton and tight end Alge Crumpler. Thornton had 78 tackles for the Titans, while Crumpler hauled in 24 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown.
Center Jason Brown represents Carolina for the Baltimore Ravens. Brown has been called one of the top young offensive linemen in league by several analysts and has started every game this season.
Pittsburgh has three Tar Heels on its roster, including starting tailback Willie Parker, place-kicker Jeff Reed and injured deep snapper Greg Warren. Parker has battled injuries this season, but is seen as a key piece of Pittsburgh playoff possibilities. He rushed for 791 yards this season, his fewest since his rookie year in 2004. Parker had his best game for the Tar Heels in the 2001 Peach Bowl, rushing for more than 100 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Reed is one of the top kickers in the NFL, making 27 of 31 attempts.
The only former Tar Heel eliminated from the postseason thus far is Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday. The Colts were defeated in overtime last week, 23-17.
