news-engine

RALEIGH, N.C. - When G.J. Crescione received a call that one of the televisions at a local bagel shop in Newton, N.J., was broken, he scurried to the store. Crescione, a former Delaware wide receiver and the owner of a local marketing company, was expecting to fix one of his company’s advertising screens and maybe grab a bagel. He wasn’t expecting to help recruit a potential player to his alma mater. Turns out, he accomplished both. When Crescione arrived at the Bagel Bistro, he noticed one worker’s sizable frame after the store owner introduced him to Melkart Abou Jaoude. Even in that short meeting, Abou Jaoude’s hunger to compete was evident. “When I looked into this kid’s eyes,” Crescione said, “I saw how serious he was.” Abou Jaoude was a senior in high school and worked multiple jobs to help his family get by while maintaining his schoolwork and playing football. Born in Lebanon and having moved to New Jersey at a young age, he wasn’t a ranked football recruit in high school, so if he wanted to play beyond the 12th grade, his only apparent choices were Division III or junior college. But after the chance meeting in the bagel shop, Abou Jaoude was eager to share his highlights with Crescione, whom he now knew to be a Delaware alum. Crescione heard the player out. When he watched his clips, he realized Abou Jaoude’s football ability lived up to his standout personality, so he shipped off Abou Jaoude’s tape to several coaches he knew across the country. They confirmed his thoughts: This guy can play. Still, few bit at first. The tide shifted when Ryan Carty became Delaware’s head coach in December 2021, and Crescione realized the stars were aligning. Crescione and Carty had a relationship dating back to their playing days together with the Blue Hens, and the new coach told Crescione that if Abou Jaoude could be accepted into the school, he would put the player on the football team as a walk-on. Abou Jaoude got in. “I was quite surprised, Crescione said, “because I had no idea that Melkart had such great academics.” Before Abou Jaoude arrived at Delaware, he was listed at 215 pounds on sports technology platform Hudl. Year by year, he worked to make the most of his unlikely opportunity. In his first season, he played in one game and took a redshirt year. By his second year, Abou Jaoude appeared in double-digit games and earned two starts as a redshirt freshman. In his third go-around, in 2024, he started every contest, finishing with team highs of 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries. “Remembering where I came from, I’m never satisfied,” Abou Jaoude said in July at ACC Kickoff. “I always want to do more, do better, and you know, just help the people that help me.” Wait, why ACC Kickoff? Because after proving all he could at Delaware, Abou Jaoude had many more coaches looking at him. When Abou Jaoude chose to leave Delaware before the 2025 season, he had put on at least 45 pounds, and he was ready for the so-called “next level.” Several programs came knocking before he chose to play under six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick at UNC. Abou Jaoude initially had his eyes set on Southern California, but Crescione said he talked him out of the move, saying he would be higher on the depth chart at UNC while learning from Belichick and staying closer to home. Abou Jaoude listened and quickly excelled at UNC, recording 10.5 sacks in 2025, second most in the ACC. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that he would be where he is right now,” Crescione said. “I thought Delaware would have been a great fit for him, but little did I know this kid is on the next level. Okay, his strength, his speed, his mind, his discipline, his heart. I mean, everything about this kid is ACC football. It is Bill Belichick.” Abou Jaoude also earned the respect of his coaches and peers. In September 2025, Belichick touted his daily work ethic. While Abou Jaoude is a less vocal leader than other players, Belichick said he earned the locker room’s trust by leading by example on the practice field and in the weight room. “(Abou Jaoude is) always ready to go,” Belichick said, according to Tar Heels on SI, “works hard and shows steady improvement.” Abou Jaoude is still unsatisfied. He’s focused on developing consistency. Last year, he had four games with two or more sacks but posted only 0.5 sacks in his other seven appearances. In the offseason, Abou Jaoude said he heard from other programs clamoring for him to transfer. But he said he valued the loyalty UNC showed him last offseason, providing him a “platform” to display his talent. Abou Jaoude said he’s learned how to simplify football under Belichick and identified specific parts of his game to develop. He wants to raise his motor on every snap and showcase his speed by becoming quicker off the line. “Every snap I want to be giving it 100%,” Abou Jaoude said. “Some snaps last year I might have been tired; I don’t want any of that. No excuses. Every snap will be flying off the ball.” How does he plan to achieve such a work rate? “I just need to die every day, basically,” he said.