Ryan Houston Class: Junior Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. High School: Butler Height / Weight: 6-2 / 245 Position: Tailback

A powerful running back who has worked hard to become quicker and faster since enrolling as a freshman • Often used in short-yardage situations.

2008: Played in all 13 games • Carried 77 times for 299 yards and a team-best eight rushing touchdowns, the most by a Tar Heel since Chad Scott also ran for eight in 2004 • Needed just eight games to surpass his season rushing total from a year ago • Averaging 3.9 yards per carry • Scored a rushing TD in seven of the last 10 games • Had four carries for four yards vs. West Virginia in the bowl game • Rushed for 25 yards on nine carries at Duke • Ran for 27 yards and a 5-yard score on seven carries against NC State • Rushed for 10 yards on four carries at Maryland • Ran for a career-best 74 yards on just 13 carries and posted first career multi-TD game in the victory over No. 20 Georgia Tech • Named one of the Tar Heels' offensive players of the week for his performance against the Jackets • Rushed for 22 yards and a 1-yard TD on seven carries versus No. 23 Boston College • Ran 11 times for 32 yards and a 1-yard TD at Virginia • Ran for 28 yards and a touchdown on eight carries against Notre Dame • Scored on a 2-yard run versus the Irish • Rushed for a season-best 39 yards and a score against No. 23 Connecticut • Scored the Tar Heels first TD on a 1-yard run against the Huskies and also added a career-best 35-yard run • Ran for 18 yards on five carries and scored a two-yard touchdown, the second of his career, at Miami • Rushed for 18 yards on five carries at Rutgers • Carried one time for two yards against McNeese State.

2007: Saw action in seven games • Bruising back finished fourth on team with 145 rushing yards on 44 carries • Carried once at NC State • Had one carry for one yard vs. Maryland • Rushed for 17 yards on four carries at Wake Forest • Ran for 18 yards on just five carries against South Carolina • Rushed for 13 yards vs. Miami • Ran for 54 yards on 18 carries at Virginia Tech • Saw first career action at USF and rushed for a team-best 43 yards on 11 carries in the second half • Scored first career TD against the Bulls on a 5-yard run.

Butler High School
SuperPrep All-America • Ranked the No. 7 player in North Carolina and the No. 21 running back in the country by Rivals • Considered the No. 9 player in North Carolina by SuperPrep • Ranked the No. 20 running back in the country by Scout.com • Member of Tom Lemming's All-America team • Member of the Rivals250 all-star team • Member of North Carolina's Shrine Bowl team • Named to the East-Meets-West National All-Star Game • Rushed 377 times as a senior for 2,219 yards and 32 touchdowns • Became the all-time leading rusher and touchdown maker in Mecklenburg County, which includes the city of Charlotte • As a junior, rushed for 1,910 yards and 34 touchdowns as Butler went 10-3 • Earned all-area honors as a junior and senior • Averaged more than seven yards per carry in his career • Coached by Mike Newsome • Averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds as a forward on the basketball team • Son of Kim Singleton and Anthony Houston • Born July 23, 1989.

Personal
Son of Kim Singleton and Anthony Houston • Born July 23, 1989 • Communications major • If he could invite three people to dinner, dead or alive, he would choose Brandon Jacobs, Beyonce and Jesus • Would most like to appear on the reality TV show "Survivor" • Has 24 tattoos • Favorite cartoon character is Spongebob Squarepants • People say he looks like NBA star Carmelo Anthony • Wants to be a teacher if he does not play professional football • If he owned a racehorse, he would call it "Champion."