Aug. 2, 2002

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--The University of North Carolina football team welcomed 21 signees, one transfer and eight walk-ons to the Kenan Football Center on Friday, signaling the start of the 2002 football season.

"I'm excited about the start of the season and getting these players together for the first day of practice on Saturday," said head coach John Bunting. "We've seen them on film and in high school games, but it's always great to see them in Carolina Blue for the first time."

Melik Brown, a 6-2, 225-pound linebacker from Camden, N.J., who signed with the Tar Heels in February, did not report on Friday and plans to attend a prep school in the fall. Rashaad Tindall, an incoming freshman from Wilmington, N.C., will report to campus on August 19th. Tindall injured his knee during the summer and plans to seek a medical red-shirt this season.

Rikki Cook, a transfer from Rutgers University, and Kevin Watson, a sophomore who was on the UNC track team last year, are among the 30 players who reported.

All 30 will participate in two-a-day workouts on Saturday and Monday. Carolina's varsity report on August 6th and the first complete squad practice in on Thursday, August 8th.