The North Carolina Tar Heels could suffer an unexpected and devastating loss in the transfer portal.
The North Carolina Tar Heels have already seen a flurry of players reveal their intention to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 2, and the losses will definitely hurt.
North Carolina has seen a mass exodus in its receiving corps, it lost a four-star quarterback in Bryce Baker and multiple key defensive players.
But could the Tar Heels also watch their best pass rusher bolt?
Grant Chacere of Tar Heels Wire thinks it's a possibility, noting that defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude could ultimately leave Chapel Hill this offseason.
"The Heels need another true edge rusher after Tyler Thompson (7.5 sacks last season) entered the portal, and there is a real risk of Abou-Jaoude hitting the portal, too," Chacere wrote.
Abou-Jaoude racked up 47 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks this year, the latter of which led the ACC. Eight-and-a-half of his sacks came over the final six games of the campaign.
North Carolina Tar Heels defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude. Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images."Just as important, the Tar Heels must keep Abou Jaoude in Chapel Hill," Chacere wrote. "His play last season drew significant national attention, and other programs are likely to pursue him aggressively. UNC has to make sure it presents a strong NIL package, because other schools will try to outbid them."
There is no question that Abou-Jaoude put himself on the radar thanks to his torrid second half, and he is even being viewed as a potential NFL prospect for 2027 thanks to his dominant showing.
Abou-Jaoude — who was a redshirt junior this season — began his career at Delaware but decided to transfer to North Carolina last December, almost immediately after Bill Belichick accepted the Tar Heels' head-coaching job.
The Newton, N.J. native showed significant promise during his final year at Delaware, rattling off 6.5 sacks. He then broke out in a big way during his debut campaign at UNC.
North Carolina will need to find a way to keep Abou-Jaoude will also adding another dynamic pass rusher in the transfer portal, which will not be an easy task.
Hopefully, Abou-Jaoude liked his first year with the Tar Heels enough to decide to remain at Chapel Hill.
North Carolina went just 4-8 this season.