Who Will Break Out in 2026?

North Carolina football is poised for a breakout season in 2026, with a roster brimming with untapped potential and breakout stars ready to shine. Melkart Abou-Jaoude could dominate the edge with his sack prowess, Kaleb Cost is primed for All-ACC honors, and freshman QB Travis Burgess brings elite arm talent. Tight end Jelani Thurman and WR Jordan Shipp are also rising stars, with Shipp especially poised to explode if the QB play improves—making this the most exciting season yet for Tar Heel fans. Support the show:Get a discount at https://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/1f50b8d938c35765