Just how impressive is the North Carolina Tar Heels' defense through their first two games of the 2026 college football season?
TCU and ETSU have just a combined 13 points against UNC (2-0), which revamped its defense with a combination of returners from 2025 and offseason transfers. North Carolina already has multiple sacks in each of its first two games, while holding each quarterback under 200 passing yards.
After the Tar Heels' 35-3 blowout of ETSU (1-2) on Saturday, starting linebacker Peyton Seelmann detailed how defense is becoming an early team identity.
“It starts with our leaders like Derek McDonald, Zay Johnson," Seelmann said. "Those guys are always getting us in the right mindset, hyping us up, getting us ready to go play. It’s fun
to play for those guys, the older guys. Those guys are great dudes.”
Seelmann, a junior who transferred over from Richmond in the offseason, recorded a game-high seven solo tackles vs. ETSU. McDonald, the fifth-year Syracuse transfer who starts alongside Seelmann at linebacker, totaled 11 tackles vs. TCU (1-1) in Week Zero. Johnson, a senior who starts on UNC's defensive line, has eight total tackles and half a TFL through two games.
These are far from the only stars on North Carolina's defense. Lineman Xavier Lewis is already making an early case for ACC Defensive Player of the Year, registering two additional sacks and TFLs vs. ETSU. Sophomore defensive back Greg Smith was everywhere vs. the Buccaneers, diving to snag an interception and recovering a fumble.
Guys will continue stepping up defensively for the Tar Heels, who are in a great position heading into their ACC opener at Clemson on September 19. Will this unit remain the top reason behind UNC's early-season success?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC linebacker emphasizes defensive identity after ETSU blowout
