Greatest college football player born in each state
One of the most dominant defensive players in college football history, Wilson, North Carolina native Julius Peppers starred for his in-state Tar Heels from 1999-2001. A Freshman All-American as a redshirt freshman, Peppers led UNC with six sacks and ten tackles for loss and also recorded an interception, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
Peppers led the nation with 15 sacks as a sophomore, which was one shy of Lawrence Taylor’s school record, and was recognized by multiple outlets as an All-American. He also scored two touchdowns – one on a fumble return and another on an interception return – and was responsible for three forced fumbles.
As a junior in 2001, Peppers recorded 9.5 sacks and intercepted three passes (which was more than any defensive lineman in the nation), one of which he returned for a touchdown. Peppers earned unanimous All-American honors, won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player and the Lombardi Award as the nation’s top lineman. In just three seasons, Peppers finished his career with a school-record 57 tackles for loss and finished second with 30.5 career sacks.
An incredible athlete that also played two seasons as a walk-on for the Tar Heels’ basketball team, Peppers was selected No. 2 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in North Carolina:
- J.J. Arrington, RB, Cal
- Carl Eller, DL, Minnesota
- Greg Ellis, DL, North Carolina
- Roman Gabriel, QB, N.C. State
- Torry Holt, WR, N.C. State
- Leonard Little, LB, Tennessee
- Bruce Matthews, OL, USC
- Natrone Means, RB, North Carolina
- Carl Pickens, WR, Tennessee
- Jack Tatum, S, Ohio State
- Mario Williams, DL, N.C. State
Next: North Dakota