Seven New Captains Lead UNC Football | North Carolina Tar Heel Football News

North Carolina just named seven captains for 2026 — right before flying to Ireland to face TCU — signaling a serious turnaround push. Offense is led by veteran running back Benjamin Hall, top receiver Jordan Shipp, and returning OL Christo Kelly. Defense boasts seasoned leaders Kaleb Cost, dynamic newcomers Isaiah Johnson and Melkart Abou Jaoude, plus Syracuse transfer Derek McDonald anchoring the middle. With most captains battle-tested and hungry to restore Tar Heel pride, they kick off the season in Dublin on August 29 at noon Eastern. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/53f57c996c07d536