College Career
A versatile athlete, Hedgecock played running back, fullback and defensive end while at the University of North Carolina, rushing for 130 yards (118 as a senior) and 2 touchdowns while also recording 83 tackles (8.5 for losses) and 1.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in his college career. His best performances running the ball were a 10-carry, 69-yard performance in a 30-24 victory over archrival North Carolina State and a 10-carry, 36-yard game in a 31-28 upset of fourth-ranked Miami, both during his senior year. He played fullback during redshirt freshman year for Tar Heels. He returned to fullback position for his senior season (2004) after playing defensive end as sophomore and junior.
In 2003, as a junior, he played in all 12 games and started 11 at defensive end and made 55 tackles, 40 (solo) and 15 assists, six tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries. In his sophomore season (2002) he played in all 12 games—he was the starting fullback in the first six games of the year, but moved to defensive end for the final six contests after injuries depleted the Carolina defensive line and played both positions against Wake Forest. He had three rushes for 11 yards, caught two passes for 7 yards and made 21 total tackles (11 solo, 10 assists) with 2.5 for lossses.
Hedgecock was nicknamed "Mad Dog." "Probably because I used to pace a lot before a game" and "I like seeing people run over people," said Hedgecock, who in college once bent the facemask on his helmet while delivering a ferocious blow. John Bunting, a former Rams assistant who was Hedgecock's head coach at North Carolina, said the nickname was "Suitable. He practices hard all the time, he runs around the field, he's the first to every drill. He's very energetic, very enthusiastic." Bunting moved Hedgecock to defensive end after his freshman season, then moved him back to fullback for his final season, as he had promised. Fullback was Hedgeock's preferred position and Bunting felt that his pro potential was there. Hedgecock graduated with a communications degree.
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