A quintet of Tar Heels earned all-conference recognition from the ACC Tuesday. Defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude was named to the ACC’s second team, while receiver Jordan Shipp, kicker Rece Verhoff and linebackers Khmori House and Andrew Simpson each received honorable mention nods.

Abou-Jaoude had a productive debut season as a Tar Heel after transferring in from Delaware. The redshirt junior collected 10.5 sacks in 2025, tied for the sixth most in a single season in UNC history. His 47 tackles ranked fourth on the team. Abou-Jaoude, who started all 12 games, was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in a 27-10 win at Syracuse on Halloween night. He had two other games with three sacks.

Shipp, a sophomore, emerged as UNC’s top receiver this season with 60 catches for 671 yards and six touchdowns. He came on strong late in the year, catching touchdowns in four of Carolina’s last five games. Verhoff, an incoming transfer from Marshall, made 19 of 23 field goals and was a perfect 20-20 on extra point attempts for UNC.

On defense, House and Simpson immediately assumed starting roles after transferring in from Washington and Boise State, respectively. House was named a team captain and led the team with 81 total tackles. He was named ACC Linebacker of the Week after recording 13 in a 20-15 win against Stanford. Simpson started all 12 of UNC’s games and ranked second on the team with 62 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and five sacks.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Andy Mead

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