North Carolina greats
27 players, ranked by what they did at North Carolina: the Heisman, the College Football Hall of Fame, national awards, consensus All-America teams, first-round picks and leading a national champion. Before 2004 our records hold the honors and the draft; from 2004 they add season stats for most players (not linemen, and not every name before 2010, when the source’s rosters fill in).
Julius PeppersHall of Fame, 2024
Dré BlyHall of Fame, 2014- Don McCauleyHall of Fame, 2001
Charlie JusticeHall of Fame, 1961- Harris BartonHall of Fame, 2021
- William FullerHall of Fame, 2016
Art WeinerHall of Fame, 1992
Barney PooleHall of Fame, 1974- Hunter CarpenterHall of Fame, 1957
Lawrence TaylorConsensus All-American, 1980
Jonathan CooperConsensus All-American, 2012
Greg EllisConsensus All-American, 1997- Ken HuffConsensus All-American, 1974
- Brian SimmonsConsensus All-American, 1997
- Marcus JonesConsensus All-American, 1995
Mitchell TrubiskyNo. 2 pick, 2017
Drake MayeNo. 3 pick, 2024- Dee HardisonConsensus All-American, 1977
Eric EbronNo. 10 pick, 2014
Robert QuinnNo. 14 pick, 2011
Quinton CoplesNo. 16 pick, 2012- Andy BershakConsensus All-American, 1937
Omarion HamptonNo. 22 pick, 2025
Sylvester WilliamsNo. 28 pick, 2013
Hakeem NicksNo. 29 pick, 2009- Ron RusnakConsensus All-American, 1972
- Mike VoightEighth in the 1976 Heisman vote
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.