2006 Football Roster
Zack Pianalto
- Position:
- H-Back
- Weight:
- null
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Springdale, Ark
- High School:
- Springdale
• 2010 Mackey Award Watch List
• 2009 Honorable-mention All-ACC
• Earned UNC Coaches' Player of the Week honors after the win over Connecticut in 2009
• Earned UNC Coaches' Player of the Week honors after the win over Virginia in 2009
Great hands and bulked up to become a good run blocker • Entering the season, he was considered on the of the top five senior tight ends in the country by NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. • Set UNC career mark for most receptions by a tight end with 94.
2010 - Senior Season
Consistent pass catcher at the tight end position who had his season cut short by a broken fibula suffered against Virginia • Finished the season with 30 receptions for 311 yards and a touchdown • Led the Tar Heels in both receptions and receiving yards at the time of his injury • Scored his only touchdown of the season at Virginia, a 1-yard reception • Finished that game with three catches for 54 yards, including a career-long 46-yard catch in the first quarter • Had one catch for six yards in the win over Clemson • Had seven catches for 95 yards in the win over East Carolina • Finished with four receptions for 20 yards in the win at Rutgers • Caught seven balls for 62 yards against Georgia Tech • Had a team-high eight catches for 74 yards in the season opener against LSU.
2009 - Junior Season
Honorable mention All-ACC selection at tight end • Posted a career-high 33 receptions for a career-best 334 yards and a touchdown on the season • Set the school record for catches by a tight end with 33, eclipsing the previous mark of 32 set by Freddie Jones in 1996 • Had two catches for 26 yards vs. Pitt in the Meineke Car Care Bowl • Suffered a subtalar dislocation of his right foot at Connecticut and missed five straight games • Recorded at least five catches in five of his last seven games played and had 21 receptions over UNC's four-game winning streak • Returned to starting lineup against Florida State but suffered a concussion and left the game • Caught two passes for 35 yards at NC State • Had five receptions for 35 yards at Boston College • Caught five passes for 51 yards against Miami • Posted a team-best five catches for 42 yards versus Duke • Caught a game-high six passes for 34 yards at Virginia Tech • Posted career highs of seven catches and 87 yards at Connecticut before suffering the foot injury following the game-tying touchdown catch in the fourth quarter • Made a career-long 25-yard catch against The Citadel.
2008:Played in seven games and made two starts • Had seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown on the season • Suffered a fractured left fibula in the win over No. 20 Georgia Tech and missed the final four games of the year • Scored first career touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Cameron Sexton before leaving due to the injury • Missed the Virginia and Boston College games with a right ankle injury • Made a 5-yard grab against Notre Dame • Posted a 7-yard reception versus Connecticut • Made one grab for 18 yards at Miami • Had three catches for 31 yards, including a long of 16, against Virginia Tech.
2007: Started eight games at h-back/tight end • Finished fourth on the team with 24 catches for 204 yards on the season• Made one catch for eight yards vs. Duke • Had four grabs for 29 yards at Georgia Tech • Had four catches for 52 yards, including a career-best 20-yard catch, at NC State • Made a career-best six receptions for 55 yards at Wake Forest • Had one catch for five yards vs. South Carolina • Made two grabs for five yards at USF • Had five catches for 43 yards, including a long of 16 vs. Virginia • Made first career catch, a four-yard grab, at East Carolina.
Springdale High School
Ranked the No. 7 player in Arkansas by Rivals • Considered the No. 10 player in Arkansas by SuperPrep • Ranked the No. 20 tight end in the country by Scout.com • Helped lead Springdale to the 5A state championship as a junior • Had 14 receptions for 337 yards and three touchdowns as a junior despite mainly being used as a blocker • Caught 12 passes for 141 yards as a senior • Missed all but two games as a senior with a broken collarbone • From the same hometown as head coach Butch Davis • Coached by Kevin Johnson at Springdale.
Personal
Son of Sherri and Kenneth Pianalto • Born May 27, 1989 • Communications major • Favorite TV show is "American Idol" • Wears No. 17 because it's the same number his grandfather wore • Listens to the Al Pacino speech from "Any Given Sunday" before each game • Would chose to run "The Amazing Race" with his brother, Cole • Favorite NFL team is the Indianapolis Colts • Would most like to have dinner with Tiger Woods, Mike Tyson and Brett Favre • People say he looks like Eli Manning of the NY Giants • Favorite restaurant in Chapel Hill is the Italian Pizzeria III • Has a boxer dog named Red • Began playing football when he was eight because he loved all sports • Wants to one day be a football coach.
Year Rec. Yards Avg. TD LP 2007 24 204 8.5 0 20 2008 7 69 9.9 1 18 2009 33 334 10.1 1 26 2010 30 311 10.4 1 46 Totals 94 918 9.5 2 46
Career Highs: 8 receptions vs. LSU (2010); 95 yards receiving vs. East Carolina (2010); 46-yard reception at Virginia (2010)
