The 2012 National Football League Draft didn't offer the celebration of North Carolina football that it did a year ago when a record nine Tar Heels were drafted. But when it was all said and done, seven UNC players wound up with opportunities to make NFL clubs.

North Carolina's actual participation in the draft was limited to the first two rounds where defensive end Quinton Coples and outside linebacker Zach Brown were selected.

But five other Tar Heels were scooped up by NFL teams in the hours immediately following the end of the draft Saturday evening.

As expected, Coples was chosen in the first round, going to the New York Jets on the 16th overall pick.

Coples became the 20th Tar Heel to be selected in the first round and the second defensive end in two years to go to that high. Robert Quinn was the 14th selection in the 2011 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.

Here's a quick look at the list of Tar Heel first rounders through the years:

North Carolina's First-Round Draft Picks (20)

1965 - Ken Willard (RB) - No. 2, San Francisco

1971 - Don McCauley (TB) - No. 22, Baltimore

1975 - Ken Huff (OG) - No. 3, Baltimore

1981 - Lawrence Taylor (LB) - No. 2, New York Giants

1981 - Donnell Thompson (DE) - No. 18, Baltimore

1984 - Brian Blados (OL) - No. 28, Cincinnati

1985 - Ethan Horton (RB/TE) - No. 15, Kansas City

1987 - Harris Barton (OT) - No. 22, San Francisco

1993 - Thomas Smith (CB) - No. 28, Buffalo

1996 - Marcus Jones (DT) - No. 22, Tampa Bay

1998 - Greg Ellis (DE) - No. 8, Dallas

1998 - Brian Simmons (LB) - No. 17, Cincinnati

1998 - Vonnie Holliday (DT) - No. 19, Green Bay

1999 - Ebenzer Ekuban (DE) - No. 20, Dallas

2002 - Julius Peppers (DE) - No. 2, Carolina

2002 - Ryan Sims (DT) - No. 6, Kansas City

2008 - Kentwan Balmer (DT) - No. 29, San Francisco

2009 - Hakeem Nicks (WR) - No. 29, New York Giants

2011 - Robert Quinn (DE) - No. 14, St. Louis

2012 - Quinton Coples (DE) - No. 16, New York Jets

Coples was an interesting selection for the Jets, who needed to enhance their pass rush.

The Jets' Rex Ryan was the only NFL head coach to attend UNC's Pro Timing Day in March to watch Coples work out and obviously liked what he saw. Ryan ignored the critics who questioned Coples' passion and work ethic.

Ryan is expecting Coples to step right in as a starter at left defensive end where he'll likely replace veteran Mike DeVito.

Likewise, the Titans have high hopes that Brown will challenge for a starting job at weakside linebacker. Brown went to Tennessee in the second round of the draft and was the 52nd overall choice.

"He's probably about as talented a football player as you can find - big, fast and athletic,'' Tennessee general manager Ruston Webster said of Brown.

Like Coples, Brown continues a UNC tradition. He is the third Tar Heel linebacker drafted in the last two years, following Bruce Carter (2nd round, Dallas) and Quan Sturdivant (6th, Arizona), who were taken in 2011. Brown is also the 24th linebacker from North Carolina drafted by an NFL team since 1980.

Now, on to the guys who didn't get drafted, but are getting an NFL opportunity through free agent signings. They are:

*Safety Matt Merletti signed with the Indianapolis Colts,

*Defensive tackle Tydreke Powell signed with the Minnesota Vikings,

*Cornerback Charles Brown signed with the Baltimore Ravens,

*Center Cam Holland signed with the Kansas City Chiefs,

*Wide receiver Dwight Jones signed with the Houston Texans.

The omission of Jones from the draft list was somewhat surprising, considering many analysts had him being selected as high as the fourth round in pre-draft projections.

Some suggested that Jones' off-the-field antics involving the party in his hometown of Burlington that first got him suspended for UNC's bowl game (he was eventually allowed to play) and subsequently got him banned from the Tar Heels Pro Timing Day hurt his draft stock.

But according to others who attended the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine, Jones hurt himself more by showing up to those events "unprepared, out of shape and unmotivated.''

Still, the 6-3, 230-pounder may have landed with a franchise where he can make an impact. The top two receivers for the Texans last season were their tight end and running back. Andre Johnson led the wide outs with 33 receptions.

Houston drafted two receivers in Ohio State's DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin of Michigan State during the middle rounds, but Jones as the ability to be as good or better than either of those players.

Jones will also be reunited with his former UNC quarterback in Houston, T.J. Yates, which should help his mental outlook on the situation.

Powell may also have landed in an advantageous situation with the Vikings. Minnesota dumped starting nose tackle Remi Ayodele in mid March and later signed veteran Fred Evans as a backup. But currently that nose tackle position is expected to be up for grabs when training camp begins.

The Colts are in a rebuilding process, which may bode well for Merletti. The team went almost strictly for offensive help in the draft, using eight of their 10 picks on that side of the ball.

Merletti's versatility and work ethic will mesh well with the Indianapolis philosophy and the fact that head coach Chuck Pagano spent a year (2007) on the UNC staff and knows a little something about Merletti probably won't hurt his chances either.

Brown faces a more difficult task in making the Ravens, although that team was looking to add depth in its secondary through the draft and free agent process. The same is true for Holland, who goes to a Chiefs team that was looking for offensive line help in the draft.

The good news is all of these Tar Heels are going to get a chance to pursue their dreams.

In the end, a chance is all you can ask for.