5/20/2016 football Edit

No. 12: Paul Severin

A great two-way All-American just before WWII, Paul Severin is worthy of this lofty ranking.

Andrew Jones • TarHeelIllustrated

Publisher

Andrew Jones has covered sports for 26 years, including all major college & professional sports for daily newspapers & national sites. He's done radio and TV & is entering his seventh year at THI.

No. 12

Name: Paul Severin

Position: End, both ways

Jersey #: 87

Years: 1938-40

Honors: 2-time, 1st-team All-America in 1939 and 1940;

Notable Stats: 6 career touchdown receptions at a time when teams rarely passed; 5 TD receptions as a junior in 1939; Caught 15 passes as a senior at a time when teams passed very little.

In Closing: Defensive stats weren’t kept when Severin played at UNC, but if they were he would have racked up tackles at a rate like few Carolina players before or after. That combination with his offensive prowess is why he ranks here. It doesn’t hurt that he was a two-time, 1st-team All-America, and in November of 1940 college football writer Harry Grayson the NSA wire service wrote that Severin “did in superlative fashion for North Carolina everything a splendid end is supposed to do.”

Severin led defenses that averaged allowing 6.2 points per game over three seasons. He missed some time with an injury in the middle of his senior season, but came on strong at the end of that season to notch another All-America achievement after a pair of huge plays late in the season helped UNC salvage a tie with Tulane (touchdown reception) and then one of the biggest defensive plays in Carolina history when he made a game-saving tackle from behind of Duke great Steve Lach to preserve a 6-3 UNC win.

Prior Ranked Heels

30 - Natrone Means

29 - Jack Merritt

28 - Landon Turner

27 - Chris Hanburger

26 - Jeff Saturday

25 - Bob Lacey

24 - Bracey Walker

23 - Ethan Horton

22 - Brian Blados

21 - Leon Johnson

20 - George Barclay