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North Carolina football head coach Bill Belichick, defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude, offensive lineman Christo Kelly and wide receiver Jordan Shipp will preview the 2026 football season at ACC Kickoff on Friday, July 17, at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown.
Belichick and the three players will meet with the media and television broadcast partners throughout the day, including a highlight appearance on ACC Network. The Tar Heels’ schedule for the day includes segments with ESPN, Sirius XM and numerous others during the full-day event.

Abou-Jaoude made an immediate impact in his first season at North Carolina, logging 10.5 sacks to lead the ACC and earn second-team All-ACC honors from both the league and The Associated Press. His sack total tied for eighth nationally and made him the first UNC player since Kareem Martin in 2013 to reach double digits in a season.
The redshirt junior also led all Tar Heel defensive linemen with 646 snaps. He ranked fourth on the team with 47 total tackles and added 12 tackles for loss.
Shipp had a breakout year, recording 60 catches for 671 yards and six touchdowns. He led UNC wide receivers in each category and earned honorable mention All-ACC. He scored a touchdown in four of UNC’s last five games.
Kelly missed most of last season due to injury and will now be a key member of UNC’s offensive line.

ACC Network will broadcast live starting at 9 a.m. ET, delivering the most comprehensive coverage in the event’s history.
Carolina opens the season in Dublin, Ireland, for the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic game against TCU on Saturday, Aug. 29, at Aviva Stadium.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Football: Bill Belichick and UNC stars head to ACC Kickoff
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