5/2/2016 football Edit

No. 30: Natrone Means

Natrone Means exploded on the scene midway through his freshman season displaying power and grace.

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. 30

Name: Natrone Means

Position: RB

Jersey #: 20

Years: 1990-1992

Honors: 2-time, 1st-team All-ACC in 1991 and 1992.

Notable Stats: 3,074 career rushing yards; 34 career rushing touchdowns; 61 career receptions for 500 yards; 35 career touchdowns; 2 kickoff returns for 31 yards; 3,740 career total yards.

In Closing: Not long after Means arrived at UNC as a true freshmen, head coach Mack Brown went to the young running back and told him he wouldn’t redshirt because the Tar Heels needed him. He was very good right away, running for 849 yards and 10 touchdowns while finishing second in the ACC Rookie of the Year voting. After consecutive 1-10 seasons, the Tar Heels went 6-4-1 in 1990.

Powerful and fast, Means ran for more than 1,000 yards in each of his next two seasons, and in his career he amazingly averaged 5.1 yards per rush in each of his three seasons. Carolina went 7-4 in 1991 and 9-3 and finished ranked No. 19 after beating Mississippi State in the Peach Bowl in 1992, Means’ final season. A bruising back who could also bounce outside, Natrone Means is a heck of a player to start off this 30-Tar Heel countdown.