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Bill Belichick’s best defensive player will miss game vs Clemson
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- Bill Belichick’s best defensive player will miss game vs Clemson
The hits keep coming for Bill Belichick's North Carolina Tar Heels . Defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude will not play in North Carolina's game against Clemson in Week 3 because of injury. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel Abou Jaoude is dealing with a hand/wrist injury he suffered against TCU in the first game of the season.
Abou Jaoude transferred to North Carolina from Delaware ahead of the 2025 season. He had 10.5 sacks in 12 games last season and was named to the All-ACC second team. Against TCU he had a sack, three solo tackles and forced a fumble. He had three tackles against Clemson last season.
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It has been an incredibly rough early season for North Carolina.
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UNC's nightmare season
NCAA Football: East Tennessee State at North Carolina
Sep 12, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks off the field after the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
It all started program general manager Michael Lombardi being placed on administrative leave over the summer. Bill Belichick's son, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick was then placed on administrative leave. Lombardi and Belichick have both since resigned following a university investigation .
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Earlier this week UNC suspended wide receiver Keeyun Chapman following an arrest.
Everything that can go wrong, has gone wrong since Belichick arrived at the school. Abou Jaoude's injury should be a reminder to Belichick that football teams deal with enough adversity without having any off field distractions. A focus on football was what he preached in New England for years, but at North Carolina its been nothing but distractions. Including ones brought by himself.
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North Carolina and Clemson play at 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. Clemson is 1-1 and dealing with their own issues under Dabo Swinney . The Tar Heels have not beaten Clemson since 2010.
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