University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: NATE SKVORETZ
Abou Jaoude Named To Senior Bowl Top 300 List
August 20, 2026 | Football
North Carolina defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude has been named to the Panini Senior Bowl Top 300 List, the organization announced Thursday.
The Panini Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage of the NFL Draft process. Each year, the Senior Bowl brings the nation's top prospects to Mobile, Alabama, providing NFL personnel from all 32 teams with an opportunity to evaluate players in a competitive environment.
The 2027 Panini Senior Bowl is on Saturday, January 30, 2027, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
Last season, Abou Jaoude was a Second Team All-ACC selection, after ranking fifth nationally and leading the conference in sacks with 10.5 following the regular season. That mark was the sixth most in a single season in Tar Heel history.
He played 646 snaps, the most by a defensive lineman in the ACC. Abou Jaoude recorded 47 tackles in 2025, the fourth most on the team. He was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after tallying a game-high six tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in Carolina's 27-10 win at Syracuse.
The Newton, New Jersey, native had three sacks in a game twice last season, accomplishing the feat against Virginia and Stanford. In addition to his sack total, Abou Jaoude had 12 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The Tar Heels will kick off the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
That game is set for noon ET (5 p.m. local time) on ESPN from Aviva Stadium.
Season and single-game tickets for Carolina football can be purchased by clicking here.
The Panini Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage of the NFL Draft process. Each year, the Senior Bowl brings the nation's top prospects to Mobile, Alabama, providing NFL personnel from all 32 teams with an opportunity to evaluate players in a competitive environment.
The 2027 Panini Senior Bowl is on Saturday, January 30, 2027, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
Last season, Abou Jaoude was a Second Team All-ACC selection, after ranking fifth nationally and leading the conference in sacks with 10.5 following the regular season. That mark was the sixth most in a single season in Tar Heel history.
He played 646 snaps, the most by a defensive lineman in the ACC. Abou Jaoude recorded 47 tackles in 2025, the fourth most on the team. He was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after tallying a game-high six tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in Carolina's 27-10 win at Syracuse.
The Newton, New Jersey, native had three sacks in a game twice last season, accomplishing the feat against Virginia and Stanford. In addition to his sack total, Abou Jaoude had 12 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The Tar Heels will kick off the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
That game is set for noon ET (5 p.m. local time) on ESPN from Aviva Stadium.
Season and single-game tickets for Carolina football can be purchased by clicking here.
Players Mentioned
Defensive Line
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