North Carolina’s football program is charting a bold course for the 2026 season, pinning its hopes on veteran head coach Bill Belichick to lift the Tar Heels back into contention.
The team enters the year without a single player drafted after the 2025 cycle, a rarity that underscores both the program’s recent challenges and the fresh slate Belichick is attempting to create.
At the heart of the offense, wide receiver Jordan Shipp has emerged as the most consistent playmaker, averaging more than 11 yards per reception and drawing praise for his precise route‑running and reliable hands.
Scouts are already tagging Shipp as a potential Day Two selection, citing his blend of speed, sure‑handedness and ability to create separation as qualities that could translate quickly to the professional game.
Defensively, cornerback Kaleb Cost has been a tackling machine, logging 45 stops and an interception in 2025, while his burst and positioning have positioned him as a prospect who could break into the first rounds of the 2027 or 2028 drafts.
Building a Balanced Attack
Belichick’s scheme emphasizes versatility, and the emergence of Shipp, Cost and Abou‑Jaoude provides the kind of balanced talent that can sustain success across both sides of the ball.
Edge rusher Melkart Abou‑Jaoude has been perhaps the most electrifying presence on the defensive line, recording 10.5 sacks last season and earning recognition as one of the ACC’s premier pass‑rushers, making him a likely early‑round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.