With a few experienced, offseason transfer portal additions, the UNC football team hopes defensive consistency will be a hallmark of its 2026 success.
North Carolina landed Richmond defensive end Donovan Hoilette Jr. to start alongside Melkart Abou-Jaoude, who led the 2025 pass-rushing attack in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels snagged Michigan State cornerback Ade Willie to reinforce their secondary, plus a pair of linebackers in Derek McDonald (Syracuse) and Peyton Seelmann (Richmond).
Expected to start alongside McDonald at linebacker, Seelmann recently earned well-deserved preseason recognition: a spot on the Butkus Award Watch List.
This award honors the best linebacker at each of the high school, college and professional levels. Former Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez won the 2025 collegiate award, while current Texas linebacker Tyler Atkinson won the 2025 high school award.
Seelmann broke out to become one of college football's top linebackers in 2025, earning First Team All-Patriot League honors while totaling 120 tackles (52 solo), five pass deflections, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. Seelmann's 120 tackles were sixth-most amongst FCS players, tying himself with Maine's Christian Thomas.
Seelmann ➡️ Butkus award watchlist pic.twitter.com/Iwy37datEZ
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) August 13, 2026
UNC faced Seelmann in Week 3, winning 41-6 over the Spiders on September 13. Seelmann shined in his former team's loss, totaling nine tackles to lead all players.
North Carolina lost its top two linebackers from 2025, Andrew Simpson (exhausted eligiblity) and Mikai Gbayor (Florida State). Having a stud like Seelmann, whose entering his junior season this fall, should help shore up the Tar Heels' unpredictable defense.
Will Seelmann thrive during his first season at the FBS level, even with defensive coordinator Steve Belichick currently away from the program? Tune in August 29 at 12 p.m. to find out.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Projected UNC starter nominated for top collegiate linebacker award