The Atlantic Coast Conference's media association released its All-ACC teams today and four defensive players from the University of North Carolina made the first team for the 2009 season. The Tar Heels' defense has largely been responsible for the team's overall success, going 8-4 this season, awaiting the news of their post-season plans.
Making the first team were the following players:
- Defensive End Robert Quinn, a sophomore who registered 11.0 sacks this season and became the first North Carolina defensive end to make the first team since the Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers did so in 2001;
- Linebacker Quan Sturdivant, a junior who led the Tar Heels in tackles with 75 and is the first Tar Heel to make the first team since Kivuusama Mays captured the honor in 1997;
- Cornerback Kendric Burney, a junior who has been a terror to opposing quarterbacks all season, returning two of his five interceptions this season for touchdowns. He holds the UNC career interception return for touchdown mark, and is second all-time in return yardage in the ACC. He is the first Tar Heel cornerback to make the first team since both Robert Williams and Dre' Bly were first-team in 1997; and
- Safety Deunta Williams, who as a junior, led the Tar Heels with six interceptions this season and finished with 41 tackles.
Three other Tar Heels made the second team, including sophomore placekicker Casey Barth, who became the first kicker since Pittsburgh Steelers' Jeff Reed made the all-conference team in 2000; junior linebacker Bruce Carter, who is considered by many to be the best hope as a first-round NFL selection; and junior defensive tackle Marvin Austin, who had six tackles for loss and four sacks.
The fact that the Tar Heels have littered the defensive all-conference teams is no surprise. Neither is the lack of offensive players on the teams. Carolina's offense has struggled all season long, while the defense has stifled the opponents' offensive attacks. The Tar Heels four first-team selections are the most since placing six on the team in 1997. It also marks the first time since 2002 that Carolina has had a first-team defensive selection, a testament to the disciplined defensive approach that Coach Butch Davis has instilled since coming to Chapel Hill to coach the team three seasons ago. Carolina's defense also finished in the top-15 in all major defensive statistical categories, with the major accolades going to total defense (ranked sixth), rushing defense (ranked ninth), pass efficiency defense (ranked 11th) and scoring defense (ranked 14th).
The Tar Heels next await the fate of their postseason future, to be announced soon.
Stay tuned for more of the Tar Heel sports experience in later articles. Until then, go Heels!
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And one other thing - Keith Cooke has another column, the Charlotte High School Sports Examiner, a great look at Charlotte's high school sports scene.
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