Nov. 26, 2007

Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- Six players from the University of North Carolina football team garnered All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors announced Monday by the league office.

Three Tar Heel defensive players earned second-team honors, including defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, linebacker Durell Mapp and defensive end Hilee Taylor. Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks joined his teammates on the second team offensive unit. Place-kicker Connor Barth and specialist Brandon Tate were honorable mention selections.

Carolina's four second-team selections were the most all-conference selections for the Tar Heels since 2001 (4).

Mapp, who led the ACC with 132 total tackles, is the first Tar Heel linebacker to earn all-conference honors since David Thornton nabbed second-team honors in 2001. Mapp came to Carolina as a walk-on in 2004 from Burlington Cummings High School. He quickly impressed the coaches and was awarded a scholarship after his freshman year. He finished his senior season with 132 tackles, seven tackles for losses, three sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

A native of Weldon, N.C., Balmer had his best season as a senior with 59 tackles, 9.5 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks. Balmer has already earned selection to the Senior Bowl and Hula Bowl.

Like Balmer, Taylor was at his best during his senior season. He ranked second in the ACC in sacks per game and his 10.5 sacks rank fourth on the UNC single-season list. Balmer and Taylor served as defensive captains in 2007.

Nicks set the Carolina single-season record for receptions with 74, breaking the previous record of 71 set by Jarwarski Pollock in 2003. Nicks ranked third in the league in receptions per game and second in receiving yards per game.

Barth made 19 of 22 field goals in 2007, missing only from 49, 52 and 63 yards. He set the school record for most consecutive field goals made and the UNC career record for field goals made with 54.

Tate led the ACC in all-purpose yards per game with 147 and was once again one of the top return men in the league.