| Michael Waddell |
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Ranked the No. 17 cornerback in the country by The Sporting News
Is on track to complete his degree requirements and graduate in August 2003 and compete for a fourth season while continuing his studies in pursuit of a Masters degree.
2002: Started the first 10 games of the season at cornerback before breaking his left fibula against Clemson Missed the last two games of the year against Florida State and Duke Finished the season with 38 tackles, two interceptions and a team-high eight pass breakups Also returned punts and had 17 returns for 72 yards, including a long of 18 yards vs. Texas Broke up two passes and had two tackles in the season opener against Miami Was matched up against Texas All-America wide receiver Roy Williams and broke-up two passes and made five tackles (three solo) Picked off a pass in the first three minutes of the Georgia Tech game, returning it for 33 yards and setting up Orners 39-yard field goal Had a career-high 10 tackles and broke up two passes in the win at Arizona State Picked off an Andrew Walter pass in the end zone agains the Sun Devils in the fourth quarter The interception came when the Tar Heels were trailing 28-24 and UNC marched down the field to score a go -ahead touchdown Had eight tackles the following week against NC State and had four punt returns for 14 yards.
2001 Junior Season
Earned second-team All-ACC honors Had 54 tackles, including 41 solo stops Had 14 pass breakups, the fourth-highest single-season total in school history Had a solid game against Texas, holding wide receiver Roy Williams to four catches for 38 yards and no touchdowns Played well against Virginia, recording a career-high nine tackles along with three pass breakups and a blocked field goal Also a dangerous kick return man who returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown versus Oklahoma Made six tackles against the Sooners Recorded at least three tackles in 10 of 13 games Had seven tackles at Georgia Tech and six vs. Wake Forest Intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter and had seven tackles against Auburn in Carolinas 16-10 victory in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
2000 Sophomore Season
Started every game at cornerback Played 626 snaps, including a season-high 78 vs. Tulsa Played sparingly in the game at Florida State because of a mild concussion Had 34 primary tackles and eight assists Tied teammate Errol Hood for the sixth-best single-season mark in UNC history with 12 breakups Picked off Georgia Techs George Godsey and ran the interception back 16 yards Had three breakups against Tulsa and Virginia Returned one kick for 24 yards vs. Clemson Also had a season-high six tackles, including one tackle for loss against the Tigers Made at least three tackles in eight games Registered six tackles against Tulsa, Wake Forest, Clemson and Pittsburgh.
Richmond County High School
Parade All-America Primarily played running back and kick returner as a senior and helped Richmond County go unbeaten and win the Class 4-A state title for the second consecutive season As a senior, he rushed 140 times for 1,564 yards, an average of 11.2 yards per carry and scored 20 touchdowns Caught 21 passes for 419 yards and nine touchdowns Also scored touchdowns on two punt returns Scored 31 times as a senior First-team all-state kick returner Earned second-team All-USA Today honors as an athlete Played for Coach Daryl Barnes Rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the 1998 4-A regional title game Set national record for punt returns As a junior he was first-team all-state and all-conference Set state record with nine touchdowns on kick returns Returned seven punts and two kickoffs for scores Made 47 tackles and had eight interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown Rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown in the 1997 state championship game victory Competed in track and field, baseball and basketball.
Personal
Born Michael Andre Waddell on January 9, 1981 in Ellerbe, N.C. Has two younger sisters Favorite NFL team as a kid was the Chicago Bears Greatest athletic moment was winning the Peach Bowl Majoring in exercise and sports science.
