Donnell Thompson, a star defensive tackle on UNC's 1980 ACC championship team and 11-year NFL veteran, died on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. He was 65. Thompson — or “Foots” as he was known to his Tar Heel teammates due to his size-16 shoe — played alongside Lawrence Taylor as part of a fear-striking defensive line that was a linchpin to UNC's success. (Daily Tar Heel)
Related: Football, Tar Heels in the NFL
After Transfers, Four Years of Waiting, UNC Quarterback Jacolby Criswell Showcases ‘Moneymaker’
Jacolby Criswell rarely played his first three seasons with the Tar Heels, then rarely played his one season at Arkansas, yet he spoke this summer.