SerpApi.Org
With training camp on the horizon and fewer than six weeks until North Carolina opens its 2026 season against TCU, it’s just about time for one of the best traditions of every college football offseason: projecting a Week 1 depth chart before a single training camp practice has been held.
That’s no easy task in Chapel Hill, where the smoke and mirrors surrounding each of Bill Belichick’s first two spring practice periods have left plenty of questions unanswered entering August.
At last Friday’s ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, however, North Carolina’s Jordan Shipp, Melkart Abou Jaoude and Christo Kelly offered a few clues, each highlighting teammates they believe are primed to make a greater impact this fall.
Here’s who caught their attention:
Jordan Shipp
“Peyton Waters had a very good spring. Peyton Waters is a dog. He’s a very good player.
“On offense, I don’t want to give away too much, but I’d say Demon June. He’s grown a lot more. June is gonna be a great player. He’s gonna help us out a lot. The biggest thing for him is his ability to work. At first, early on, being a freshman, he wasn’t pushing as hard. I had one or two talks with him and told him, ‘Just run with me. Let’s run together, let’s push each other,’ and he’s really bought into that. Now he’s pushing guys and holding the standard the same way.
The way June has worked this offseason has stood out, and I think he’s gonna reap the benefits of it all season long. Benjamin Hall has done a great job doing the same thing. That’s his room, and he and June really push each other as well.
“We have a very talented and very young receiver room that’s going to be really good in the future and can really help us out.”
Christo Kelly
“A guy like Will Conroy (is a new face that has impressed me). He came from IMG Academy but also went to Saint Ignatius, played Ohio football, got coached up at IMG, and you can tell his understanding of the game is at a different level for a freshman with what he’s able to pick up and relay.
“Center is a tough position, especially as a freshman. You’re the guy making all the calls, so he’s done a tremendous job.
“A guy like Carson Sneed, a tight end who is just an absolute beast and a grinder. This guy is an incredible athlete and such a good blocker, and I’m excited to see what he’ll be able to do moving forward.”
Melkart Abou Jaoude
“I like Ade (Willie). Jon (Agumadu) was with us last year, but he’s really stepped up this year. He’s a very vocal leader and he’s a hard worker.
“We’ve got a lot of good guys from last year, too. Leroy Jackson and Isaiah Johnson are two guys who are going to show what they can do this year.
“(On the offensive line) we’ve got Shaq (McRoy), he’s a good tackle, and so is Jordan Hall. But they’re all good players who are working and are going to get better.”
