5/15/2016 football Edit

No. 17: Dee Hardison

Defensive lineman Dee Hardison routinely made big hits for the Tar Heels in the mid-1970s.

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. 17

Name: Dee Hardison

Position: DT

Jersey #: 71

Years: 1974-77

Honors: 1977 1st-team All-America; 2-time, 1st-team All-ACC

Notable Stats: 4

In Closing: Hardison arrived at UNC as a running back, but was moved to the defensive side of the ball, first at linebacker and later to tackle once the staff beefed him up some, eventually putting on close to 50 pounds so he could play the position. Known as an excellent pass rusher from the tackle position, he occupied multiple blockers, freeing up rushing lanes for teammates.

UNC led the nation in scoring defense in 1977, giving up just 7.4 points a game. The Tar Heels led the ACC in total, rushing, passing and scoring defense. No team would lead the ACC in those categories until the 1993 Florida State team that won the national title did so. The Heels in 1977 shut out two foes, held two others to 3 points, and two others to 7 points. Only one team, Nebraska, scored more than 14 points, and that was in the Liberty Bowl.

“Dee was one of the hardest working players I’ve ever seen,” his head coach at UNC, Bill Dooley told the Fayetteville Observer in 2006. “And he was a guy who loved his teammates, and they loved him. Dee was special.”

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