Zach Hilton

Position:
Tight End
Height:
6-7
Weight:
276
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Silver Spring, Md.
High School:
Good Counsel

Showed rapid improvement in his last two seasons at Carolina • Has great size for tight end and continues to get bigger and faster • An outstanding receiver who rarely dropped any passes, Hilton improved as a blocker in his senior season • Earned “Super Ram” status in the weight room during the offseason.

2002 • Senior Season
Started all 12 games • Had 19 receptions for 258 yards, both career highs • Also had one touchdown • Made a 25-yard reception against Florida State • Had one reception for 16 yards against Clemson • Made two catches for 20 yards against Maryland • Had one reception for 13 yards against the Demon Deacons • Made two grabs for 39 yards against Virginia • Had two catches for 31 yards in the loss to NC State • Made a season-high three receptions against Arizona State for 10 yards as the Tar Heels defeated ASU 38-35 • Caught two passes for 30 yards and a touchdown versus Georgia Tech • His 19-yard touchdown catch against the Yellow Jackets gave Carolina a 10-7 lead in the first half • Made one reception for 12 yards in the loss to Texas • Had no catches in either of the first two games of the season.

2001 • Junior Season
Played in every game and was credited with nine starts, including the Peach Bowl, but the Tar Heels often began the game with a two-tight end set • Had 12 catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns • Entered the season without a career reception, but made his first career catch at Texas and caught a pass in the next seven straight games • Had a reception in eight of the last nine games • Caught his first career TD on a 5-yard pass from Ronald Curry against ECU • That pass was originally intended for Brandon Russell, but it was tipped by a Pirate defender into Hilton’s hands • Had a career-high three catches for 30 yards and one touchdown against ECU • Had a 12-yard touchdown catch vs. Wake Forest.

2000 • Sophomore Season
Saw action on special teams and as a back-up tight end behind seniors Alge Crumpler and Dauntae’ Finger • Did not catch a pass, but had one tackle vs. Virginia on special teams • Played in 10 games and participated on 95 snaps • Played a season-high 19 snaps vs. Duke.

Prior
Played in every game in 1999 on special teams • Had one special teams tackle against Furman • Played 163 snaps • Was redshirted in 1998.

Good Counsel High School
First-team all-state selection by the Associated Press • Played at Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, Md. • Played tight end and defensive end • Had 23 catches for 345 yards and three touchdowns as a senior • Led the team in sacks with 12 and had 58 tackles • Career stats included 47 receptions for 752 yards and seven touchdowns • All-conference defensive end • Washington Catholic Conference all-district and all-conference selection • First-team All-Montgomery County by the Montgomery Journal • Selected to play in the Maryland-Pennsylvania All-Star Classic in July 1998 • Coached by Tom Kolar • Also played four years of basketball • Made the honor roll eight times.

Personal
Born Zachary Thomas Hilton on July 2, 1980 in Washington, D.C. • Majoring in history • Has one younger brother, one older brother and one older sister • Favorite pro teams are the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Orioles • Greatest athletic achievement was winning the Peach Bowl • His father, Tom, played college football at George Washington • His brother, Josh, played football at Virginia Tech • Favorite former Tar Heel football player is Freddie Jones • Has modeled his game after Alge Crumpler • Would like to switch places for a day with comedian Craig Kilbourne • Plays the guitar • Earliest football memory was as a water boy for the high school team coached by his father.