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Panthers sign first-round pick

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 22 (UPI) -- Hometown favoriteJulius Peppers, the second overall pick in the 2002 draft, has agreed to contract terms with the Carolina Panthers.

The 6-6, 283-pound Peppers played three years at North Carolina, where he was a unanimous All-America and won both the Chuck Bednarik and Lombardi Awards.

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"I'm glad that negotiations are completed," said Peppers, who ranked second all-time in Tar Heels history with 30 1/2 sacks and also registered 53 tackles for losses.

New Panthers coach John Fox, a former defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, hopes Peppers will turn into a pass-rushing force at defensive end similar to Michael Strahan. Carolina had just 26 sacks last season and its defense ranked

last in a dreadful 1-15 season.

Peppers has prototype size and speed with a huge wingspan. He led the nation in 2000 with 15 sacks, one shy of Lawrence Taylor's 1980 school record. Last season, Peppers had 9 1/2 sacks, 63 tackles, including 19 for losses, and three

interceptions.

The only two draft picks who have not agreed to terms with Carolina are running back DeShaun Foster of UCLA (second round) and Stanford quarterback Randy Fasani (fifth round).

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