UNC's Melkart Abou Jaoude Named Second Team All-ACC

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude, the ACC’s leader in sacks with 10.5 on the season, was named Second Team All-ACC, the league announced on Tuesday. He added 47 tackles and a forced fumble to his totals as well.

Wide receiver Jordan Shipp, kicker Rece Verhoff and linebackers Khmori House and Drew Simpson earned Honorable Mention.

Abou Jaoude was tied for eighth in the country in sacks. He became the first UNC player since Kareem Martin in 2013 to record 10 or more sacks in a single season. Pro Football Focus credited him with a team-high 23 quarterback hurries and seven hits. He earned a 78.7 defensive grade on PFF, ranking him third on the team.

The 6-foot-5 Abou Jaoude went on a tear from late October to early November, racking up eight sacks in three games. In two of those three games — a loss to Virginia and a win against Stanford – he posted three sacks. He helped a Steve Belichick-led UNC defense as it displayed some midseason improvements.

He won the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Week award after the team’s victory against Syracuse, in which he finished with six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

“You can get in a groove, but sacks are team stats,” Abou Jaoude said after the win against Syracuse. “If I’m in a groove and the DBs aren’t covering them, there’s not a sack. So it’s a team stat, and the DBs are doing a great job covering, and we’re just winning our rushes.”

The Tar Heels picked up Abou Jaoude as a transfer from Delaware last December in the winter portal window. After playing one game in 2022, he played 13 games in 2023 and started in two. He took on a starting role in 2024, recording 24 tackles, with 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Abou Jaoude was credited throughout his first year at UNC for his consistent work ethic and dedication to improving.

“Melkart is a little bit of a quieter guy, but very well respected because of his work ethic, his toughness and his consistency,” Bill Belichick said in September. “He just shows up every day, gives you his best. You know you can count on him. His teammates have a tremendous amount of respect for him, and he’s had great production. So his leadership really comes from his day in and day out performance and toughness and reliability.”

North Carolina finished the season with a 4-8 record in its first season under Belichick.

2025 All-ACC Football Teams

First-Team All-ACC
Offense
QB – Haynes King, Georgia Tech (200)
RB – Hollywood Smothers, NC State (214)
RB – J’Mari Taylor, Virginia (207)
WR – Duce Robinson, Florida State (217)
WR – Chris Bell, Louisville (210)
WR – Malachi Toney, Miami (208)
TE – Justin Joly, NC State (178)
AP – Jacob De Jesus, California (134)
OT – Francis Mauigoa, Miami (212)
OT – Blake Miller, Clemson (125)
OG – Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech (202)
OG – Logan Parr, SMU (132)
C – Luke Petitbon, Florida State (115)

Defense
DE – Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (167)
DE – Akheem Mesidor, Miami (164)
DT – Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech (121)
DT – Peter Woods, Clemson (120)
LB – Caden Fordham, NC State (188)
LB – Cade Uluave, California (167)
LB – Sammy Brown, Clemson (147)
CB – Hezekiah Masses, California (160)
CB – Avieon Terrell, Clemson (138)
S – Nick Andersen, Wake Forest (137)
S – Ahmaad Moses, SMU (125)

Specialists
PK – Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech (209)
P – Jack Stonehouse, Syracuse (165)
SP – Jacob De Jesus, California (158)

Second-Team All-ACC
Offense
QB – Darian Mensah, Duke (114)
RB – Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest (165)
RB – Nate Sheppard, Duke (99)
WR – Cooper Barkate, Duke (160)
WR – Jacob De Jesus, California (132)
WR – Lewis Bond, Boston College (119)
TE – Sam Roush, Stanford (114)
AP – Malachi Toney, Miami (123)
OT – Brian Parker II, Duke (121)
OT – PJ Williams, SMU (71)
OG – Anez Cooper, Miami (127)
OG – Logan Taylor, Boston College (94)
C – Brady Wilson, Virginia (98)

Defense
DE – Isaiah Smith, SMU (140)
DE – Melkart Abou Jaoude, North Carolina (90)
DT – Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami (83)
DT – Rene Konga, Louisville (73)
LB – Kyle Louis, Pitt (143)
LB – Matt Rose, Stanford (133)
LB – Rasheem Biles, Pitt (131)
CB – Keionte Scott, Miami (118)
CB – Chandler Rivers, Duke (104)
S – Jakobe Thomas, Miami (111)
S – Earl Little Jr., Florida State (96)

Specialists
PK – Trey Butkowski, Pitt (62)
P – Daniel Sparks, Virginia (108)
SP – Sahmir Hagans, Duke (117)

Third-Team All-ACC
Offense
QB – Carson Beck, Miami (66)
RB – Isaac Brown, Louisville (80)
RB – Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami (62)
WR – Jordan Hudson, SMU (84)
WR – Trell Harris, Virginia (82)
WR – Antonio Williams, Clemson (34)
TE – Jeremiah Franklin, Boston College (43)
AP – Caullin Lacy, Louisville (87)
OT – McKale Boley, Virginia (64)
OT – Markel Bell, Miami (61)
OG – Noah Josey, Virginia (90)
OG – Justin Pickett, Duke (88)
C – James Brockermeyer, Miami (83)

Defense
DE – Will Heldt, Clemson (80)
DE – Clev Lubin, Louisville (79)
DT – Kemari Copeland, Virginia Tech (69)
DT – Aaron Hall, Duke (64)
LB – Kam Robinson, Virginia (98)
LB – TJ Quinn, Louisville (94)
LB – Wesley Bissainthe, Miami (42)
CB – Karon Prunty, Wake Forest (89)
CB – Brent Austin, California (53)
S – Ricardo Jones, Clemson (84)
S – Devin Neal, Virginia (81)

Specialists
PK – Cooper Ranvier, Louisville (52)
P – Marshall Nichols, Georgia Tech (86)
SP – Chris Barnes, Wake Forest (52)

Honorable-Mention All-ACC
QB – Kevin Jennings, SMU (45)
QB – Chandler Morris, Virginia (39)
RB – Kendrick Raphael, California (57)
RB – Adam Randall, Clemson (23)
RB – Malachi Hosley, Georgia Tech (18)
WR – CJ Williams, Stanford (29)
WR – T.J. Moore, Clemson (28)
WR – Jordan Shipp, North Carolina (24)
WR – Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson (22)
WR – Kenny Johnson, Pitt (21)
WR – Caullin Lacy, Louisville (21)
TE – Sage Ennis, Virginia (23)
TE – Jeremiah Hasley, Duke (23)
TE – Matthew Hibner, SMU (21)
TE – Randy Pittman Jr., Florida State (21)
AP – Adam Randall, Clemson (33)
AP – Cam Ross, Virginia (21)
AP – Chris Barnes, Wake Forest (16)
OT – Jacarrius Peak, NC State (44)
OT – Malachi Carney, Georgia Tech (40)
OT – Ryan Baer, Pitt (37)
OT – Ethan Mackenny, Georgia Tech (30)
OT – Tristan Leigh, Clemson (20)
OT – Fa’alili Fa’amoe, Wake Forest (20)
OG – Lance Robinson, Louisville (51)
OG – Walker Parks, Clemson (41)
OG – George Sell, Wake Forest (31)
OG – BJ Williams, Pitt (30)
OG – Richie Leonard IV, Florida State (28)
C – Pete Nygra, Louisville (66)
C – Ryan Linthicum, Clemson (45)
C – Joshua Bates, SMU (29)
C – Devin Kylany, Wake Forest (27)
DE – Langston Hardy, Wake Forest (69)
DE – Mitchell Melton, Virginia (49)
DE – Vincent Anthony Jr., Duke (30)
DE – Wesley Williams, Duke (21)
DE – T.J. Parker, Clemson (20)
DT – Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State (61)
DT – Jeffrey M’ba, SMU (48)
DT – Terry Webb, SMU (43)
DT – Jahmeer Carter, Virginia (39)
DT – Jayden Loving, Wake Forest (27)
DT – Francis Brewu, Pitt (27)
DT – Mandrell Desir, Florida State (26)
DT – Clay Patterson, Stanford (24)
DT – David Blay Jr., Miami (23)
DT – Kody Huisman, Virginia Tech (22)
DT – Aidan Keanaaina, California (21)
LB – Wade Woodaz, Clemson (40)
LB – Braylan Lovelace, Pitt (37)
LB – Luke Ferrelli, California (36)
LB – Andrew Simpson, North Carolina (35)
LB – Antonio Watts, Louisville (31)
LB – Dylan Hazen, Wake Forest (23)
LB – Kyle Efford, Georgia Tech (23)
LB – Mohamed Toure, Miami (23)
LB – Khmori House, North Carolina (20)
CB – Ja’son Prevard, Virginia (53)
CB – Deuce Harmon, SMU (32)
CB – Shawn Lee Jr., Pitt (30)
CB – Damari Brown, Miami (23)
CB – Tayon Holloway, Louisville (22)
CB – Jerry Wilson, Florida State (20)
S – Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU (70)
S – KP Price, Boston College (39)
S – Omar Thornton, Boston College (38)
S – Davaughn Patterson, Wake Forest (36)
S – Zechariah Poyser, Miami (35)
S – Jay Green, Stanford (31)
S – Cruce Brookins, Pitt (23)
S – Khalil Barnes, Clemson (22)
PK – Luca Lombardo, Boston College (51)
PK – Will Bettridge, Virginia (32)
PK – Rece Verhoff, North Carolina (23)
P – Caden Noonkester, NC State (43)
P – Caleb Junko, Pitt (31)
SP – Luca Lombardo, Boston College (33)
SP – Yamir Knight, SMU (27)
SP – Keelan Marion, Miami (24)
SP – Trey Butkowski, Pitt (21)