​With North Carolina’s 2026 football season approaching, edge rusher Melkart Abou-Jaoude is poised to be one of the Tar Heels’ top playmakers.The ACC’s reigning sack leader made an immediate impact in his first year at UNC, finishing with 10.5 sacks and earning second-team All-ACC honors from both the league and The Associated Press.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAbou-Jaoude’s 10.5 sacks tied for eighth nationally and made him the first Tar Heel to reach double digits in a season since Kareem Martin in 2013. The redshirt junior logged a team-high 646 snaps among North Carolina defensive linemen in 2025, 112 more than any other player in the group, and finished fourth on the team with 47 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss.A Delaware transfer, Abou-Jaoude arrived in Chapel Hill in 2025 after three seasons with the Blue Hens, now a member of Conference USA. He redshirted as a freshman after appearing in one game, then played in all 13 games the next year with two starts, posting 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks. As a junior, he started all 11 games and was named All-CAA honorable mention after recording a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries.According to Pro Football Focus, Abou-Jaoude finished last season with 42 total pressures, seven quarterback hits and 23 hurries, with an 11.1 percent missed tackle rate. Nearly all of his snaps came with him aligned outside the offensive tackle, underscoring his value as a true edge presence in North Carolina’s defense.Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude (9) sacks Richmond Spiders quarterback Kyle Wickersham (16) in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn ImagesAbou-Jaoude would probably be the starting choice for over 90% of universities with a Division I football team, and he might also be on the verge for each ACC team, with Carolina’s position depending on his performance this season. Abou-Jaoude is the key player on Carolina’s defensive line once again and is expected to have another season with double-digit sacks.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNonetheless, two things will be working against him. For starters, opposing offenses will likely scheme more against him this year, potentially opening opportunities for other defensive linemen. However, Abou-Jaoude also benefited from Tyler Thompson being on the other end, but Thompson has since transferred to Louisville.Nonetheless, Abou-Jaoude will be effective coming off the edge even if his numbers drop a little.Oct 31, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Joseph Filardi (13) loses a fumble on a tackle by North Carolina Tar Heels defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude (9) in the fourth quarter at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn ImagesYearOvrerallRun DefTackPass RshCovg2579.073.876.879.471.42474.576.358.470.360.22369.073.883.961.067