BY BRIANA GORMAN

bgorman@heraldsun.com; 419-6668

North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin decided to give himself a 21st birthday present.

On Jan. 1, the junior said via Twitter that he would pass on the NFL and return to UNC for his senior season, and Monday the school announced that five other key juniors would be returning for the 2010 season.

The Tar Heels return the core of their defense in safety Deunta Williams, cornerback Kendric Burney, linebackers Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant. Their top wide receiver, former Hillside star Greg Little, also will return for his final season of eligibility.

"My decision to return to the University of North Carolina was basically because I thought it was the best decision for me and my family," said Austin, who was projected to be a second-round pick. "I think we have a chance to be special, so that's why I came back."

UNC coach Butch Davis said he helped inform the players about "the advantages and disadvantages of leaving early."

"It was an individual decision for each player, and for some it was harder than others," UNC coach Butch Davis said in a statement released by the school. "They all want to continue the momentum we have in this program, build Carolina into a championship contender and be a part of a special senior class."

Austin said he knew what he wanted to do before UNC's 19-17 loss to No. 17 Pittsburgh in the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Dec. 26, and he made his announcement via Twitter because he was tired of everyone asking him what he was going to do.

Austin said he went to UNC with the intention of leaving for the NFL after three years but felt that the Tar Heels had some unfinished business after going 8-5 this past season. Austin said he thinks UNC has a chance to be pretty decent next year, and in his heart he knew he needed an extra season to become bigger, faster and stronger.

"I have a lot of things that I can get better at with my game as far as technique-wise," said Austin, who was named second-team All-ACC. "And just talking to Coach [Butch] Davis and Coach [John] Blake, they know what it takes to be a great pro on the next level. I don't just want to be a good player, I want to be a great player."

Williams announced he would be returning to UNC before the Tar Heels' bowl loss but said he knew he wanted to come back as early as his birthday on Nov. 21. That day also was when Williams had three interceptions in a victory over Boston College.

"Even with it heating up at that time, I felt in my heart that I didn't want to leave Carolina," said Williams, who was expected to be taken in the third round. "I really didn't [want to leave], and so I was keeping it to myself.

"I told maybe my mom after the [Boston College] game, I think, that I wanted to come back and finish it again. And no matter what the rest of the season held, I was going to come back."

Austin and Williams both said they kept in touch with their defensive teammates who also were pondering a jump to the NFL, but ultimately each player made their own decision.

It just turned out all five were feeling the same way and it immediately gives the Tar Heels one of the top defenses in the nation headed into 2010 season.

"We could've gone to the next level of play and actually do some things, but we felt, collectively as a group, that we all wanted to come back," Austin said. "It just felt like something was missing there that we didn't accomplish everything we could. ... It wasn't like we got together as a group. It was just something that we all felt in our hearts."

But football is not the only consideration, according to Davis.

"Not only will they benefit as football players by staying an additional year, but all six are on track to earn a degree from North Carolina," Davis said.