Sylvester Williams, DT

Great story of perseverance ... Exceeded all expectations a year ago with his standout play ... Has one season of eligibility remaining, including a redshirt season if necessary ... Enrolled at Carolina in January, 2011, after two seasons at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College ... Worked at Modine Manufacturing Company making radiator parts for large trucks before enrolling at Coffeyville ... Had originally thought he was finished with football, but decided to go back to school for one more attempt to play and earn his degree.

Williams, a native of Jefferson City, Mo., enrolled at Carolina in January, 2011, after two seasons at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. He originally thought he was finished with football after high school, and worked at a factory before enrolling at Coffeyville. He graduated from Carolina in December and was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer.

Williams started all 25 games during his two seasons in Chapel Hill. As a senior, he posted 42 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses and 6.0 sacks to earn a spot on the Pro Football Weekly All-America team. He had a spectacular game on national television at Virginia (Thursday night game) with a career-high eight stops, two tackles for losses and a 10-yard sack to help lead the Tar Heels to a 37-13 victory.

One of four UNC defensive players to start all 13 games ... Finished with 54 tackles, 7.0 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery ... Recorded six tackles and assisted on a tackle for loss against Missouri in the Independence Bowl ... Assisted on a tackle for loss and broke up a pass in a 37-21 win over Duke ... Had six tackles, including a sack on the first play from scrimmage, in a close loss at Virginia Tech ... Sacked Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas and forced a fumble that the Tar Heels recovered ... Made six tackles and had two quarterback hurries at NC State ... Had one tackle in a 49-24 win over Wake Forest ... Recorded six tackles, including a 10-yard sack, and had a quarterback pressure in a 59-38 loss to Clemson ... Posted five tackles, 1.5 for loss and a half sack, in a 30-24 loss to Miami.

Recorded six tackles, including two tackles for losses of 13 yards and a 10-yard sack, and broke up a pass in a 14-7 victory over Louisville ... Had three tackles in a 35-20 victory at East Carolina ... Posted a season-high seven tackles in a loss at Georgia Tech ... Had one of his best games of the season with five tackles and a fumble recovery in a 28-17 victory vs. Virginia ... Posted one tackle, broke up a pass and had a quarterback pressure in a 24-22 victory vs. Rutgers ... Carolina limited the Scarlet Knights to just one yard rushing, the fewest by an opponent since 2000 ... Had one tackle in Carolina's season-opening 42-10 win over James Madison.

Considered a four-star prospect by Scout.com ... Ranked the No. 12 junior college talent by SI.com ... Rated the No. 14 overall junior college prospect by SuperPrep ... Recorded 52 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and five blocked kicks in 2010 and was named all-conference and honorable-mention All-America ... Coached by Darian Dulin at Coffeyville Community College ... Played just one year of high school football.

Son of Sylvester Williams Sr. ... Born Nov. 21, 1988 ... Communications major ... Favorite NFL team is the St. Louis Rams because he grew up watching them in his hometown ... Likes to work on cars with his dad ... Most treasured possession is his cell phone ... Has a younger brother, Cedric and three older sisters, Sylvia, Sylia and Robin.