North Carolina’s offense could have a few names in the mix for All-ACC recognition this season, and the clearest candidates all sit in different spots on the field. If the Tar Heels are going to take a step forward under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, it may come down to whether Jordan Shipp, Aidan Banfield, and Demon June can deliver at a level that puts them on the conference radar.
Shipp looks like the easiest player to point to first. He may be the Tar Heels’ best football player this season, and he should be the go-to option for whichever quarterback opens the week under center.
His value comes from the full package: ball skills, route-running prowess, and attention to detail. That combination gives him a real chance to put together a big year, one that could land him in the 60-plus-catch, 1,100-yard, 10-touchdown range and make him an intriguing NFL Draft prospect next offseason if the timing makes sense.
Banfield brings a different kind of case. Even while missing most of last season because of injury, he showed enough on tape this summer to stand out as a player who was operating at an all-conference level.
His run-blocking was stout, and he showed heavy discipline in pass protection. North Carolina’s offense looked better with him on the field, and that kind of steady impact up front is exactly what can translate into All-ACC recognition.
If he keeps delivering that kind of reliable play through the 2026 campaign, he should have a strong shot at earning the honor.
Then there’s June, who may be set up for the kind of workload that fits Petrino’s approach. With a run game that figures to feature downhill climb blocks, duo, trap, and wham concepts, both June and Benjamin Hall could benefit.
But June stands out in fall camp as one of the top offensive players on the roster. He’s a physical runner who can also make plays in space, using power and impressive agility as a true sophomore.
If he puts together the season UNC needs, he could help drive the offense and end up with All-ACC status as a rusher.
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Burgess has earned praise from offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino for the progress he has made, a promising sign for a freshman trying to push into the conversation on offense. Weatherspoon, meanwhile, has flashed the athleticism and range that make him look like a ready-made factor on defense, which is why both players are at least in the mix for early playing time as UNC sorts out its depth chart in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Got Pulled Into A Duke Battle For Elite 2027 Talent
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For North Carolina, the move matters because it drops the Tar Heels right into a heavyweight chase with Duke and several other major programs. Williams is weighing official visits to nine schools, and the added urgency around his decision will ripple through both the 2027 and 2028 rankings as the race for one of the nations top talents sharpens. [Read more 🡒]