Melkart Abou Jaoude got snubbed in the 2026 preseason All-ACC team voting, but there are some smart people who cover the sport who understand just how good he is on the football field.
Ahead of his redshirt senior season, Abou Jaoude is expected to once again anchor the UNC football program's defensive attack. Not only does he hope to replicate his success from a season ago, but is working hard to be even better this time around, as the nation is taking notice of how he deserves to be considered among the country's top defensive players.
Melkart Abou Jaoude named to the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List
This week, the Football Writers Association of America released the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Award watch list. The award, which has been presented annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football defensive player voted on by the members of the FWAA, is named after Bronko Nagurski, who played for the University of Minnesota and the Chicago Bears.
Abou Jaoude is one of 68 players to be featured on this season's preseason watch list.
Preseason Recognition for Melkart 🏈 pic.twitter.com/idi2DcOag2
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) August 4, 2026
A Newton, New Jersey native, Abou Jaoude was a breakout star for Bill Belichick's defense during the 2025 season. After transferring from Delaware to North Carolina, Abou Jaoude was simply a force to be reckoned with, finishing his first season on campus with 10.5 sacks in 12 games, earning second-team All-ACC honors for his efforts.
Unlike last season, Abou Jaoude won't be able to fly under the radar this upcoming season. Opposing defenses will need to account for him every time he steps on the field, knowing very well that he will be making a hit on the quarterback in the backfield if they lose track of him.
Rece Verhoff is taking advantage of his newly-acquired year of college eligibility
While the team expectations aren't as high as they were a year ago, North Carolina has the opportunity to prove all the doubters wrong this upcoming season. If they are able to accomplish that goal, it's safe to say that Abou Jaoude will be right in the middle of that charge, playing a significant role on the defensive side of the football during his final season on campus.
The full watch list for the 2026 Bronco Nagurski Award can be found below:
2026 Bronco Nagurski Award Watch List
Melkart Abou Jaoude — North Carolina
Rolijah Hardy — Indiana
Ty Redmond — Tennessee
Xavier Atkins — Auburn
Simeon Harris — Fresno State
Ben Roberts — Texas Tech
Rasheem Biles — Texas
A.J. Holmes Jr. — Texas Tech
Kam Robinson — Virginia
KJ Bolden — Georgia
Baron Hopson — Kennesaw State
Matt Rose — Stanford
Drayk Bowen — Notre Dame
Bray Hubbard — Alabama
Faletau Satuala — BYU
Sammy Brown — Clemson
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. — Ohio State
Colin Simmons — Texas
Taye Brown — Arizona
Will James — Houston
Anthony Smith — Minnesota
Zabien Brown — Alabama
Jamel Johnson — TCU
Donnie Smith — Troy
Kemari Copeland — Virginia Tech
Isaiah Jones — Indiana
Dylan Stewart — South Carolina
John Henry Daley — Michigan
Kelley Jones — Mississippi State
David Stone — Oklahoma
CJ Doggette Jr. — Florida Atlantic
Dylan LaBarbera — Nevada
MJ Stroud — Georgia Southern
Will Echoles — Ole Miss
Kip Lewis — Oklahoma
Jack Tchienchou — Tulane
Jaxton Eck — New Mexico
Bryce Llewellyn — Eastern Michigan
Boubacar Traore — Notre Dame
Koen Entringer — Louisville
Clev Lubin — Louisville
Tyrique Tucker — Indiana
Tre'Quon Fegans — Jacksonville State
Zach Lutmer — Iowa
Cade Uluave — BYU
Amare Ferrell — Indiana
Jaylen McClain — Ohio State
Princewill Umanmielen — LSU
Brandon Finney Jr. — Oregon
Leonard Moore — Notre Dame
Jayden Virgin-Morgan — Boise State
C.J. Fite — Arizona State
Ahmad Moten Sr. — Miami
A'Mauri Washington — Oregon
Bryce Fitzgerald — Miami
Koi Perich — Oregon
Whit Weeks — LSU
Blake Fletcher — Air Force
Suntarine Perkins — Ole Miss
Raylen Wilson — Georgia
Josh Franklin — Western Michigan
Colton Phares — App State
Damon Wilson II — Miami
Isaiah Glasker — BYU
Brice Pollock — Texas Tech
Daniel Wingate — Maryland
Brevin Hamblin — Utah State
Marcus Ratcliffe — Texas A&M
Add us as a preferred source on Google