5/6/2016 football Edit

No. 26: Jeff Saturday

What many people saw in the NFL is a process that really took off when Saturday was at UNC.

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. 26

Name: Jeff Saturday

Position: Center

Jersey #: 64

Years: 1994-97

Honors: 2-time, 1st-team All-ACC in 1996 and 1997;

Notable Stats: 4

In Closing: One of the hardest working players from an era loaded with many great Tar Heels, Jeff Saturday never took a play off in a game or in practice. He treated every moment he was working to improve as if it was the most important of his football life. He personified the drive within the UNC program in the mid-1990s, and because he was so respected by his teammates, Saturday was a team captain as a junior and senior even though he never made All-America on a team with several others who did.

Saturday helped lead an offense that included three 1,000-yard rushers, a first-team All-ACC QB, and an offense that scored 40 or more points 13 times, 50 or more 4 times and 60 once. Much like “Famous” Amos Lawrence, Saturday doesn’t quite match the requirements to have his jersey honored at UNC, but the school should consider his importance, and regard that he didn’t personally get the recognition he deserved shouldn’t keep him from an honor he is clearly worthy of having.

Prior Ranked Heels

30 - Natrone Means

29 - Jack Merritt

28 - Landon Turner

27 - Chris Hanburger