While the University of North Carolina’s football program has faced criticism for its defensive performance in recent decades, the school has a history of producing standout linebackers, particularly during the 1970s through the 1990s. The following is a summary of notable linebackers who have made significant contributions to North Carolina football.
Dwight Hollier played from 1987 to 1990 and holds the record as the leading tackler in UNC history with 502 tackles over four seasons. He served as a two-time captain and was recognized as one of coach Mack Brown’s earliest key players. In 1989, Hollier achieved a personal best with 159 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble, earning second-team All-ACC honors. The next year, he posted 155 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks and multiple forced fumbles on his way to being named first-team All-ACC.
Buddy Curry played between 1976 and 1979 and remains among the top tacklers at North Carolina. He holds the single-season record for tackles and is tied for fourth all-time with twelve career interceptions. Curry was twice selected All-ACC and set a school mark with 171 tackles in one season along with five interceptions.
Brian Simmons played from 1994 to 1997 and was recognized as an important figure on North Carolina’s renowned team that went eleven-one in his senior season while fielding one of college football‘s strongest defenses. During his time at UNC he tallied 340 tackles, thirty-six tackles for loss, fifteen sacks, eight interceptions and five forced fumbles. Simmons earned All-America recognition as well as three consecutive selections to the All-ACC team.
Kivuusama Mays played from 1994 through 1997 and led UNC in tackles each year from his sophomore through senior seasons while earning All-ACC honors all three years. As a sophomore in 1995 he had a career-high of 138 stops; by his senior season he recorded sixteen-and-a-half tackles for loss alongside more than one hundred total stops.
Lawrence Taylor rounds out this list after playing from 1977 through 1980. Initially starting his career as a defensive lineman before moving to linebacker, Taylor became an unanimous All-American selection in his senior season after making sixteen sacks—a single-season school record that still stands today. That same year he received ACC Player of the Year honors becoming just one of four defensive players ever to do so at that point.
This article originally appeared on “North Carolina Tar Heels on SI” and was syndicated with permission.
