North Carolina is staring at a huge one on Saturday, and the Tar Heels need every capable body they can get for No. 3 Notre Dame. That starts with edge rusher Melkart Abou Jaoude, whose return could matter just as much as any offensive adjustment or coaching wrinkle in Chapel Hill.
This is the highest-ranked opponent Bill Belichick has faced at home in his UNC era, and the Tar Heels are chasing what would amount to a signature win. Notre Dame, meanwhile, is trying to avoid the kind of stumble that has shown up for the Fighting Irish against North Carolina in recent years. With that kind of backdrop, the Tar Heels cannot afford to be short-handed in the trenches.
Abou Jaoude has missed the last two games because of a wrist/hand injury after playing in Week 0 against TCU. When he’s on the field, he brings the kind of force that changes how an offense has to operate. He was one of the ACC’s leading sack-getters last season, and his mix of power, size, and length makes him a problem on every snap.
North Carolina has held up without him. Defensive tackle Xavier Lewis is third in the country with six sacks, and transfer Jaylen Harvey has given the Tar Heels a quick, disruptive edge presence with the ability to hold up against the run. But against Notre Dame’s offensive line, that may not be enough.
That’s why getting Abou Jaoude back this weekend matters so much if he’s healthy enough to go. His presence would give North Carolina a better shot at matching Notre Dame’s physicality and creating the kind of pressure that can turn the game into a real battle up front. Belichick may have already felt the sting of missing his best run-defending defensive end when Clemson started running all over the field.
Abou Jaoude is not being talked about as a future top-five draft pick, but he is still a major piece for this defense. If he plays, it could help Lewis draw more favorable one-on-one chances inside and force Notre Dame to dedicate a tight end to help on the edge, which would cut down the number of available targets for quarterback CJ Carr.
Will Abou Jaoude alone decide the game for North Carolina? No.
The offense has to deliver too. But he can absolutely be one of the reasons the Tar Heels have a shot at pulling off the upset, and that’s the kind of impact UNC needs on Saturday.
In Other News...
UNC Just Got A Veteran Guard Boost Fans Didnt See Coming
Angelo Brizzis move to Chapel Hill gives North Carolina another experienced guard at a time when roster depth and backcourt stability matter as much as ever. The veteran has already logged time at Villanova, Davidson, Longwood and Buffalo, and the NCAA has approved a waiver that clears him to play one more college season. Now he arrives at UNC with the kind of well-traveled background that can help a new-look team settle in quickly under first-year head coach Michael Malone.
For the Tar Heels, Brizzis addition is less about splash than about fit, because a player who has seen that many programs usually brings a sense of pace, adaptability and perspective. His final college stop gives North Carolina another layer of insurance and another voice in a guard group that will need to absorb Malones system fast. The bigger question now is how that experience translates once the games begin and where Brizzi fits in a rotation that is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Lost Momentum In A Crucial Five Star Battle
Jordan Pages recruitment has reached a pivotal stretch, and North Carolina just felt the ground shift a little. The five-star guard recently visited Chapel Hill and also took a trip to UConn, giving both programs a chance to make their case as his process moves toward a final decision. For the Tar Heels, landing a player of Pages caliber would be a major boost, especially in a battle that has drawn plenty of attention on the national recruiting trail.
The latest buzz, though, has tilted away from UNC. Travis Branham of 247Sports put in a Crystal Ball prediction for UConn, a sign that the Huskies may have the inside track even as both schools stay actively involved. Recruiting decisions can still turn quickly, but for North Carolina, this is the kind of update that makes the final stages of a five-star chase feel a lot more urgent. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Must Fix One Passing Problem To Threaten Notre Dame
North Carolinas passing game has had trouble stretching the field this season, and that has become a clear concern as the Tar Heels prepare for Notre Dame. Billy Edwards Jr. has not found much consistency on throws beyond 10 yards, leaving the offense short on the kind of explosive plays that can change a game against a tougher opponent.
Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino have both stressed the need for sharper execution and better design to help create those opportunities. The Tar Heels are also hopeful to get receiver C.J. Sadler back in the mix, a potential boost since he has already caught the longest pass of the season and could give the passing attack a needed jolt at just the right time. [Read more 🡒]