University of North Carolina tight end Zach Hilton has accepted an invitation to play in the 2003 Hula Bowl on Feb. 1 in Maui, and wide receiver Sam Aiken will play in the 2003 Senior Bowl on Jan. 22 at Ladd-Peeples Stadium in Mobile, Ala. 

A 6-7, 276-pound senior from Silver Spring, Md., Hilton finished his Carolina career with 31 receptions for 346 yards and two touchdowns. He had his most productive season as a Tar Heel during his senior season, starting all 12 games and catching 19 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown. In Carolina's 38-35 win at Arizona State, Hilton had three catches.

Aiken, a 6-2, 205-pound senior from Kenansville, N.C., finished his Carolina career as one of the school's most prolific receivers.  He set school records in receptions and receiving yards as a senior with 68 catches for 990 yards.  He led the ACC in receptions per game in 2002 and was the team's leading receiver in 2001 and 2002.  He finished his career with 15 touchdowns, the third-highest total in school history.

The first Senior Bowl player practices are scheduled for today in Mobile. Each team will practice once a day during the week.  Senior Bowl practices are attended by over 630 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from the 32 National Football League teams.  This year, the Detroit Lions coaching staff will coach the South Team and the Houston Texans coaching staff will coach the North Team.

Aiken hopes to become the first Tar Heel wide receiver to be drafted since 1999 when Na Brown was selected in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles.  The 2003 NFL Draft is April  26-27 at The Theatre in Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The 2003 Hula Bowl will be played at War Memorial Stadium in Kahului on the island of Maui. Hilton will play on the "Aina" (Hawaiian for "Land") Team that will be coached by Miami's Larry Coker. For more information on the Hula Bowl, go to www.hulabowlmaui.com.

On Jan. 11, Hilton played in the East-West Shrine Game and caught three passes for 22 yards. Hilton hopes to become the third Tar Heel tight end drafted in as many years. In 2001, Alge Crumpler was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons and Dauntae' Finger was selected in the seventh round. The 2003 NFL Draft is April 26-27 at The Theatre in Madison Square Garden in New York City.