2 months ago
It's officially game week. College football starts on Saturday, with your North Carolina Tar Heels playing in the 2026's season's first game.
UNC heads across the pond for a 12 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, August 29 against the TCU Horned Frogs, who hopped into Kenan Stadium last year for a 48-14 thumping. North Carolina revamped its roster during the offseason, landing multiple starters at skill positions, while also retaining key players from 2025.
Now just a few days out from its 2026 opener, North Carolina named its seven Team Captains. Running back Benjamin Hall, offensive lineman Christo Kelly and wide receiver Jordan Shipp captain the Tar Heels' offense, while defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude, defensive back Kaleb Cost, defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson and linebacker Derek McDonald captain the defense.
Kelly gives UNC's offensive line a much-needed reinforcement, particularly with a new starting quarterback in Chapel Hill. Hall likely splits time again with 2025 breakout star Demon June in the backfield, while Shipp returns as one of the ACC's top pass-catchers.
Your 2026 team captains! pic.twitter.com/cTP1vVyDsz
#north #heels #shipp
UNC heads across the pond for a 12 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, August 29 against the TCU Horned Frogs, who hopped into Kenan Stadium last year for a 48-14 thumping. North Carolina revamped its roster during the offseason, landing multiple starters at skill positions, while also retaining key players from 2025.
Now just a few days out from its 2026 opener, North Carolina named its seven Team Captains. Running back Benjamin Hall, offensive lineman Christo Kelly and wide receiver Jordan Shipp captain the Tar Heels' offense, while defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude, defensive back Kaleb Cost, defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson and linebacker Derek McDonald captain the defense.
Kelly gives UNC's offensive line a much-needed reinforcement, particularly with a new starting quarterback in Chapel Hill. Hall likely splits time again with 2025 breakout star Demon June in the backfield, while Shipp returns as one of the ACC's top pass-catchers.
Your 2026 team captains! pic.twitter.com/cTP1vVyDsz
#north #heels #shipp
2 months ago
Just a few weeks out from starting their 2026 football campaign, the North Carolina Tar Heels are hoping their mix of returners and offseason additions propel them to heightened success.
UNC trudged to a 4-8 record in 2025, with anticipation from Bill Belichick's hiring quickly dying out during the blowout loss to TCU. North Carolina beat Charlotte and Richmond in consecutive September weeks, then didn't win again until a Halloween victory over Syracuse.
One of the Tar Heels' best 2025 surprises came in the form of defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude. On Tuesday, Abou Jaoude earned himself a nomination to the Bronco Nagurski Award Preseason Watch List, an award annually given to the best defensive player in college football.
Abou Jaoude continued UNC's recent trend of promising pass rushers, leading his teammates with 12 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. The Delaware transfer's best stretch came during late October/early November, when he totaled eight sacks between a 2-1 stretch for North Carolina.
The Tar Heels lost most of their other 2025 pass-rushing production. Tyler Thompson (7.5 TFLs, seven sacks) transferred to Louisville and Andrew Simpson (nine TFLs, five sacks) graduated, while CJ Mims (2.5 TFLs, two sacks) transferred to Texas A&M.
#sacks #jaoude #best #award
UNC trudged to a 4-8 record in 2025, with anticipation from Bill Belichick's hiring quickly dying out during the blowout loss to TCU. North Carolina beat Charlotte and Richmond in consecutive September weeks, then didn't win again until a Halloween victory over Syracuse.
One of the Tar Heels' best 2025 surprises came in the form of defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude. On Tuesday, Abou Jaoude earned himself a nomination to the Bronco Nagurski Award Preseason Watch List, an award annually given to the best defensive player in college football.
Abou Jaoude continued UNC's recent trend of promising pass rushers, leading his teammates with 12 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. The Delaware transfer's best stretch came during late October/early November, when he totaled eight sacks between a 2-1 stretch for North Carolina.
The Tar Heels lost most of their other 2025 pass-rushing production. Tyler Thompson (7.5 TFLs, seven sacks) transferred to Louisville and Andrew Simpson (nine TFLs, five sacks) graduated, while CJ Mims (2.5 TFLs, two sacks) transferred to Texas A&M.
#sacks #jaoude #best #award
3 months ago
Bill Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi are facing fresh scrutiny after North Carolina was shut out of the 2026 NFL Draft, ending a run of at least one Tar Heel pick every year since 2016.
The empty draft class comes after months of UNC describing itself as the NFL's "33rd team," and it has only deepened questions about the roster's talent level heading into Year 2 under Belichick, even after the Tar Heels added 61 players this offseason and followed a 4-8 debut.
CBS Sports **** yst Matt Zenitz said NFL personnel still view the Tar Heels as lacking high-end talent.
"UNC didn't have a single player drafted," Zenitz said via The College Football Insiders. "When talking to NFL people this summer, different people around the NFL front office and personnel world, this is a team that is once again depleted of next-level talent."
Defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude is UNC's top projected NFL prospect. He had 10.5 sacks last season, finishing second in the ACC and tied for 12th nationally, and is still viewed as a Day 3 draft candidate.
#talent #level
The empty draft class comes after months of UNC describing itself as the NFL's "33rd team," and it has only deepened questions about the roster's talent level heading into Year 2 under Belichick, even after the Tar Heels added 61 players this offseason and followed a 4-8 debut.
CBS Sports **** yst Matt Zenitz said NFL personnel still view the Tar Heels as lacking high-end talent.
"UNC didn't have a single player drafted," Zenitz said via The College Football Insiders. "When talking to NFL people this summer, different people around the NFL front office and personnel world, this is a team that is once again depleted of next-level talent."
Defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude is UNC's top projected NFL prospect. He had 10.5 sacks last season, finishing second in the ACC and tied for 12th nationally, and is still viewed as a Day 3 draft candidate.
#talent #level
3 months ago
There's no denying how disappointing the 2025 UNC football season was, considering the immense preseason hype Bill Belichick brought ahead of his first year in charge.
North Carolina finished 4-8, only beating two Power Four programs in Syracuse and Stanford. Gio Lopez arrived from South Alabama, giving the Tar Heels a dual-threat quarterback that so many programs covet, but he largely struggled.
Now projected to start for Wake Forest, Lopez will likely run into UNC again at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte later this week.
Wake Forest takes the podium from 1-1:30 p.m., with Lopez joining new teammates Langston Hardy and Davaughn Patterson. Right after the Deacs? Belichick plus North Carolina players Melkart Abou-Jaoude, Christo Kelly and Jordan Shipp.
Lopez only completed four of 10 passes for 69 yards and an interception in his Tar Heel debut, a 48-14 blowout loss to TCU on Labor Day in Kenan Stadium. Lopez responded with a stronger second half of his lone season in Carolina Blue, compiling five consecutive games with 200 passing yards, but never became the consistent difference-maker UNC envisioned.
North Carolina finished 4-8, only beating two Power Four programs in Syracuse and Stanford. Gio Lopez arrived from South Alabama, giving the Tar Heels a dual-threat quarterback that so many programs covet, but he largely struggled.
Now projected to start for Wake Forest, Lopez will likely run into UNC again at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte later this week.
Wake Forest takes the podium from 1-1:30 p.m., with Lopez joining new teammates Langston Hardy and Davaughn Patterson. Right after the Deacs? Belichick plus North Carolina players Melkart Abou-Jaoude, Christo Kelly and Jordan Shipp.
Lopez only completed four of 10 passes for 69 yards and an interception in his Tar Heel debut, a 48-14 blowout loss to TCU on Labor Day in Kenan Stadium. Lopez responded with a stronger second half of his lone season in Carolina Blue, compiling five consecutive games with 200 passing yards, but never became the consistent difference-maker UNC envisioned.
