2017 Bracket Challenge: North Carolina VS. Morehead State
NORTH CAROLINA
Notables: LB Lawrence Taylor (1981, 1st Rd), WR Hakeem Nicks (2009, 1st Rd)
Taylor joined the Giants as the second overall selection of the 1981 NFL Draft and played his entire 13-year career for the team. When Taylor retired, he was the NFL's No. 2 all-time sacks leader in the NFL with 132.5. That total does not include the 9.5 he accumulated as a rookie in 1981 before the sack was an official NFL statistic. Taylor established an NFL record by appearing in 10 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1981-1990. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1981 and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1981, 1982, and 1986. He was a unanimous selection as the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1986, when he had a career-high 20.5 sacks, 105 tackles, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. Nicks, the 29th overall pick in 2009, propelled the Giants to their fourth Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLVI. His 444 yards receiving in that playoff run are second only to Larry Fitzgerald's 546 in 2008 for the most in a single postseason.
VS.
MOREHEAD STATE
Notable: Phil Simms (1979, 1st Rd)
Simms was incoming GM George Young's first draft choice in 1979 and he played his entire 15-year with the Giants. Before Eli Manning, Simms held the Giants career records for pass attempts (4,647), completions (2,576), yards (33,462) and touchdowns (199). He was 95-64 (.597) as a regular season starter and 6-4 in the playoffs. But Simms is best remembered for his almost flawless performance in leading the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XXI. He completed 22 of 25 passes – including all 10 of his throws in the second half – for 268 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 39-20 rout of the Denver Broncos. In one of the easiest votes in history, he was selected the game's Most Valuable Player.
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