CHAPEL HILL – UNC’s Giovani Bernard was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 37th pick of the 2013 NFL Draft. Brennan Williams followed, selected by the Houston Texans with the 89th pick.
Carolina has produced three of the first 37 picks in this year’s draft, the most for the Tar Heels since 1998.
No. 7 pick Jonathan Cooper, and No. 28 pick Sylvester Williams, were drafted Thursday night in the 1st round.
Giovani Bernard
Bernard was the first running back picked in the draft and the first time Carolina has had the first running back taken in the draft. However, it’s the lowest pick the first-running back has been selected in draft history.
Bernard had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2011 and 2012. He elected to skip his final two years and go-pro following his sophomore season.
As a senior, Bernard rushed 184 times for 1,228 yards and 12 touchdowns, had 47 receptions for 490 yards and five touchdowns, and 16 punt returns for 263 yards and two touchdowns. He set a UNC single-season record with 198.1 all-purpose yards per game.
Brennan Williams
Williams and Cooper are the first UNC offensive linemen duo to be selected in the same draft since 1985.
Williams earned honorable mention All-ACC accolades for his play in 2012 despite missing the final four games with shoulder surgery.
The offensive tackle had a career-high 23 knockdown blocks to help the Heels rush for 339 yards in the win over Virginia Tech last season.
Williams’ father, Brent, played in the NFL from 1986-93 with New England, Seattle and the New York Jets.
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