University of North Carolina Athletics
Five Tar Heels Sign With NFL Teams
April 27, 2010 | Football
April 27, 2010
Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- Five University of North Carolina football players have signed free agent contracts with NFL teams, including offensive tackle Kyle Jolly with Pittsburgh, linebacker Kennedy Tinsley with St. Louis, defensive back Jordan Hemby with Indianapolis and defensive tackle Aleric Mullins and fullback Bobby Rome with Green Bay.
An honorable-mention All-ACC pick at left tackle in 2009, Jolly made 38 consecutive starts at North Carolina. He graded out at 78 percent and had 31 knock down blocks last year.
Tinsley was one of Carolina's top special teams players in 2009 and saw significant time at linebacker. He had 39 tackles in 2009 and earned recognition as the special teams captain.
Hemby joined Tinsley as a special teams captain and finished the season with 12 tackles. In 2008, he was started all 13 games at cornerback and had 49 tackles and led the team with three forced fumbles.
Mullins decided to forgo his final year and graduate early in 2009. He finished the season with 15 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for losses, and had four quarterback pressures. Mullins played in all 26 games over the last two seasons and made five starts in 2007.
Rome came to Carolina as a quarterback, but moved to fullback where he was an outstanding blocker for four seasons. He caught 34 passes for 356 yards and one touchdown in his career. As a sophomore in 2007, he tossed a 50-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Tate on a trick play.
