Offensive guard Jonathan Cooper and defensive tackle Sylvester Williams have both been mentioned as potential first-round draft picks in 2013. The last time two Tar Heels were picked in the first round came in 2002 when DE Julius Peppers was picked No. 2 overall by the Carolina Panthers and DT Ryan Sims went sixth overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.

WalterFootball.com has Cooper going No. 10 to the Titans and Williams going to the Vikings at No. 23 while Pat Kirwin of CBS Sports has Cooper going to the Chargers at No. 11 and Williams going to the Panthers at No. 14.

“The Titans almost have to go offense here because the front office and coaching staff will be fired if Jake Locker and Chris Johnson don’t perform well,” WalterFootball.com writes. “General manager Ruston Webster needs to do everything in his power to get the most out of Locker. Webster has stated that he’s not opposed to taking a guard with this selection. Jonathan Cooper can play both guard and center, so his versatility will help him get drafted this early. His athleticism will be key with a speedy back like Chris Johnson.”

Williams is less of a sure thing to go in the first round but some seem confident he will. “The Vikings can address one of their biggest needs with one of the top players available. Defensive tackle is a huge issue right now; Kevin Williams will turn 33 in August, and there’s no one of note playing next to him. Letroy Guion is a decent rotational guy but should not be a starter. Sylvester Williams can play both interior positions and bring back the Williams Wall,” WalterFootball.com writes.

Cooper is bidding to become just the fourth offensive lineman picked in the first round from UNC. The others were Ken Huff in 1975 (No. 3 overall), Brian Blados in 1984 (No. 28) and Harris Barton in 1987 (No. 22). Huff is the only other guard to be picked in the first round from UNC.

Speaking of offensive guards, the last time a guard was selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft was 1997 when Colorado’s Chris Naeole was selected by the New Orleans Saints at No. 10.

The last time a defensive tackle from UNC was selected in the first round was 2008 when Kentwan Balmer was taken at No. 29 by San Francisco.

Carolina has had 20 all-time first-round draft picks, which ranks just outside the top 25 in the country. It is, however, the most of any school in the state, ahead of NC State (15), Duke (5) and Wake Forest (4).