UNC Football: Jahvaree Ritzie earns National Player of the Week honors

After an offseason in Chapel Hill during which defensive names like Power Echols and Kaimon Rucker were the most prominent players, a new powerhouse on the UNC football program's defense has emerged.

North Carolina defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie put the country on notice in his season debut against the Minnesota Gophers and has been named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week.

The senior from Kernersville, North Carolina, native had six total tackles, with three sacks (career-high) on top of three tackles for loss. Ritzie was also named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week and currently leads the ACC in sacks.

Ritzie’s three sacks was the most in a single game by a Tar Heel football player since Tomon Fox did it in 2019, with three sacks against the Miami Hurricanes on Sep. 7. He’s also the first North Carolina defensive lineman to win ACC DL of the week since his teammate Kaimon Rucker won it almost a year ago in September 2023.

In his postgame interview after North Carolina’s 19-17 victory over the Gophers, Ritzie discussed his impressive performance and keeping that momentum going.

“It’s my senior year this year, so I just want to take over. Whether it’s practice, the weightroom, or off the field stuff, I want to be 100% with everything I do and take care of business… I want to continue to keep elevating.”

After just one game, Ritzie has already totaled more sacks this season (3) than he has throughout his first three seasons in Chapel Hill (2.5). Ritzie and the rest of the North Carolina defense will look to keep their momentum going in a week two matchup this Saturday in the UNC football program's home opener against Charlotte.