According to a report by ESPN.com's Joe Schad, UNC linebacker Quan Sturdivant and safety Deunta Williams will return for their senior seasons.
Sturdivant led North Carolina with 79 tackles, and Williams snared six interceptions to pace UNC's secondary.
Williams and Sturdivant's decisions mean the Tar Heels will return all but two of their starters next season from the ACC's No. 1 defense in terms of yards allowed per game. UNC finished No. 6 nationally in total defense, and will lose only defensive end E.J. Wilson and defensive tackle Cam Thomas.
Defensive back Kendric Burney, defensive tackle Marvin Austin and linebacker Bruce Carter already had announced they would remain in Chapel Hill on their Twitter feeds Friday evening.
All five players who will return were thought to be potential NFL draft picks this spring.
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
