Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 15-10@ TCU | 4 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Total | 4 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#9
Melkart Abou-Jaoude
Senior defensive lineman for North Carolina. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′5″ · 260 lb · Newton, NJ
CFB Index 88 · #19 of 420 edge rushersLow confidenceReturning to North Carolina for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
1
sack · 2026
1 TFL · 4 tackles
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 sacks, 1 TFL, 4 tackles, vs TCU
Statement game5 tackles · 3 TFL · 3 sacksvs Stanford (FBS) · W 20-15
Top 1% tackles for loss game since 2021.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive lineman for North Carolina. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Transferred from Delaware to North Carolina in 2025.
Melkart Abou-Jaoude
Disrupts the pocket from the interior. Melkart Abou-Jaoude arrived at North Carolina from Delaware. The receipt on tape: 4 tackles, 1 sacks against TCU, Week 1, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- portal record
- game log
His career
202512 games
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
North Carolina
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Bill Belichick, all balanced, slow tempo offenses — 6-8 over that span.
2025North Carolina4-8HC: Bill Belichick · Balanced, slow tempo
2026North Carolina2-0HC: Bill Belichick · Balanced, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
Elite: sacks (87th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 4.0 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 1.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bill Belichick
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Impact starter
Tackle volume for the position among the most productive regulars.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
88 · #19 of 420 edge rushers
Unranked recruit. Now #19 at the position.
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #4 of 73 ACC DLs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | North Carolina | 4 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | North Carolina | 47 | 24 | 12.0 | 10.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 51 | 27 | 13.0 | 11.5 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 15–10
at TCU
4 TOT · 3 SOLO · 1 SACKS
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 5 on the road.
With B. Edwards — 232 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 77.2 · -4 rush yds (7 car) · A. Burrell — 28 LONG · 67 PCT · 7 PTS
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
North Carolina
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · North Carolina
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -12 net (19 in / 31 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
North Carolina · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #28 · 2026 recruiting class #19
DNA match
Player DNA
3-Tech Penetrator
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Max Llewellyn’s 2023 season.
84%match
NFL Rd 7
Matches Max on
Weight
Sack rate
Hurry rate
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Isaiah Foskey's sophomore season at Notre Dame (2021).
88%match
Consensus All-AmericanNFL Rd 2 · Pk 9
Matches Isaiah on
Class year
Weight
TFL rate
The defensive line · North Carolina
- #9Melkart Abou-Jaoude12 tackles for loss · 2025
- Isaiah Johnson2.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #11Jaylen Harvey1.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #90Xavier Lewis0.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #91Leroy Jackson0 tackles for loss · 2025
12 more on the roster · North Carolina team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology