HOUSTON, Dec. 5 -- Defensive end Julius Peppers of North Carolina won the first of three possible post-season honors Wednesday night when he received the Lombardi Award, which recognizes the top lineman in the country.
Peppers, who could be the No. 1 pick in next year's NFL draft, also is a finalist for the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards.
Those winners will be announced Thursday during the college football awards show.
Peppers beat out linebacker Rocky Calmus of Oklahoma and defensive ends Dwight Freeney of Syracuse and Alex Brown of Florida for the Lombardi Award, which is named after legendary coach Vince Lombardi.
Last week, the four finalists were named First Team All-Americans by the Football Writers Association of America.
The 6-6, 285-pound Peppers gave up basketball last season to concentrate on football and has said he will give up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
As a junior, he has 63 tackles, including 19 for losses, 9.5 sacks and three interceptions heading into the Peach Bowl.
Peppers became the first Tar Heel to win the award since its inception in 1970. Greg Ellis (1987) was the only other finalist from North Carolina.
No one from an Atlantic Coast Conference school other than Florida State has won the award since Maryland's Randy White in 1974. White went on to become a Hall of Famer with the Dallas Cowboys.
The winner was elected by a panel of media members, coaches, broadcasters and former winners of the award. Florida State defensive end Jamal Reynolds claimed the honor last season. Content: 15003000
