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UNC football names team captains for 2026 season
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- UNC football names team captains for 2026 season
It's officially game week. College football starts on Saturday, with your North Carolina Tar Heels playing in the 2026's season's first game.
UNC heads across the pond for a 12 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, August 29 against the TCU Horned Frogs , who hopped into Kenan Stadium last year for a 48-14 thumping. North Carolina revamped its roster during the offseason, landing multiple starters at skill positions, while also retaining key players from 2025.
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Now just a few days out from its 2026 opener, North Carolina named its seven Team Captains. Running back Benjamin Hall , offensive lineman Christo Kelly and wide receiver Jordan Shipp captain the Tar Heels ' offense, while defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude , defensive back Kaleb Cos t, defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson and linebacker Derek McDonald captain the defense.
Kelly gives UNC's offensive line a much-needed reinforcement, particularly with a new starting quarterback in Chapel Hill. Hall likely splits time again with 2025 breakout star Demon June in the backfield, while Shipp returns as one of the ACC's top pass-catchers.
Abou-Jaoude is one of the country's premier pass-rushers, earning multiple preseason honors while returning double-digit sack and TFL totals from 2025. Johnson gives North Carolina another solid returner in the trenches (40 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, two sacks), while Cost (33 solo tackles, one interception) is the leader of UNC's secondary. McDonald should be another leader for the Tar Heels – despite missing most of 2025 with an injury, he brings three seasons of starting experience and over 100 tackles from Syracuse.
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Whether you're watching Saturday's opener or games in Kenan Stadium this fall, keep an eye on these seven captains as North Carolina hopes for a return to the winning column.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football names team captains for 2026 season
