Another Tar Heel is off the board at the NFL Draft.

Ty Chandler, whose one year in Chapel Hill turned into the most productive of his career, was selected with the No. 169 overall pick in the draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

Chandler is the third Tar Heel to be selected in this year’s draft, after offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu went to the New York Giants and quarterback Sam Howell went to the Washington Commanders. Chandler will also be the second Tar Heel on the Vikings, joining linebacker Chazz Surratt, who was picked No. 78 overall in the 2021 draft.

After transferring to Carolina from Tennessee, Chandler rushed for a career-high 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns with the Tar Heels in 2021. He’d only scored 13 rushing touchdowns total in four seasons with the Volunteers. Chandler also became a receiving threat, averaging 14.4 yards per catch and adding another touchdown through the air with Carolina.

Chandler’s best game came in UNC’s memorable come-from-behind win over then-undefeated Wake Forest in Chapel Hill. Chandler accounted for 243 total yards and four touchdowns in the win, helping the Tar Heels rally from an 18-point deficit in the second half. Three of Chandler’s touchdowns came in the fourth quarter alone.

Chandler is the third UNC running back to be drafted in two years, after Javonte Williams and Michael Carter both heard their names called in 2021. Both Williams and Carter turned in productive rookie seasons in the NFL, something Chandler will hope to emulate with the Vikings.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Keith Srakocic

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