North Carolina Tar Heels in the NFL 2011
On the opening weekend of the NFL in 2011, there are 22 Players on NFL Rosters that played for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Players noticeably missing at the start of this NFL season are longtime Pittsburgh Steelers’ PK Jeff Reed and former Super Bowl MVP ‘Fast’ Willie Parker. Other Tar Heel players that are expected to be picked up as the season progresses, like 4 year verteran Kentwan Balmer, who is coming off his best professional season with Seattle Seahawks last season, and rookie CB Kendric Burney who made it to the final cut this year with the Carolina Panthers.
The most recognized Tar Heels in the NFL continue to be WR Hakeem Nicks of the NY Giants (a top Fantasy Football League choice) and DE Julius Peppers of the Chicago Bears.
| Name | Team | Position | Experience |
| Vonnie Holliday | Arizona Cardinals | DE | 14 |
| Garrett Reynolds | Atlanta Falcons | OT | 3 |
| Mike McAdoo | Baltimore Ravens | DE | Rookie |
| Johnny White | Buffalo Bills | RB | Rookie |
| Da’Norris Searcy | Buffalo Bills | CB | Rookie |
| Julius Peppers | Chicago Bears | DE | 10 |
| Brandon Tate | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | 3 |
| Greg Little | Cleveland Browns | WR | Rookie |
| Jesse Holley | Dallas Cowboys | WR | 2 |
| Gerald Sensabaugh | Dallas Cowboys | S | 7 |
| Ryan Taylor | Green Bay Packers | TE | Rookie |
| T.J Yates | Houston Texans | QB | Rookie |
| Jeff Saturday | Indianapolis Colts | C | 13 |
| Hakeem Nicks | NY Giants | WR | 3 |
| Marvin Austin | NY Giants | DT | Rookie * |
| Greg Warren | Pittsburgh Steelers | Long Snapper | 7 |
| Cam Thomas | San Diego Chargers | DT | 2 |
| Jason Brown | St Louis Rams | C | 7 |
| Robert Quinn | St Louis Rams | DE | Rookie |
| Zack Pianalto | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TE | Rookie |
| E.J. Wilson | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DE | 2 |
| Connor Barth | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | PK | 4 |
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This list represents all of the 22 North Carolina Tar Heels on NFL rosters as of opening Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
Several talented North Carolina Tar Heels are now participating on NFL practice squads and should be promoted to their teams active roster before the end of the season.
