5/17/2016 football Edit

No. 15: Marcus Jones

No matter where Marcus Jones played - inside or outside - he was a force for the Heels in the 90s.

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. 15

Name: Marcus Jones

Position: DL

Jersey #: 71

Years: 1992-95

Honors: 2-time All-America, 1st-team All-America in 1995; 3-time All-ACC, 2-time 1st-team All-ACC; ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 1995.

Notable Stats: 24 career sacks, the UNC all-time record at the time; 222 career tackles, including 94 as a senior; 46 tackles for a loss of yardage; 57 career QB hurries;

In Closing: Marcus Jones was one of the best defensive linemen in UNC history, not just one of the program’s top defensive ends. He spent some time at defensive tackle, a move coach Mack Brown felt was not just a need at the time for the Tar Heels, but would make Jones a better end. It worked, as he turned in a career that by the time he graduated was one of the best in ACC history.

Jones was a key component to the top-rated defense in the ACC in 1995. He could shed blockers with power but also get around them with his moves and quickness. When he graduated, he was UNC’s all-time leader in sacks, a mark that was broken a few years later by Greg Ellis. On the final play of his Carolina career, Jones sacked Arkansas’ QB to end the game, a 20-10 UNC victory in the Carquest Bowl. The Tar Heels played in bowl games all four years of his career, winning 10 games in 1993.

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