Beau Atkinson sets career high, leads UNC defensive line in domination of Florida State

Beau Atkinson looks every bit of a leader along UNC’s defensive line, as evidenced by his career high in sacks at Florida State Saturday.

I can’t remember a North Carolina Tar Heels defensive line with more talent that its current group.

UNC has 2023 sack leader Kaimon Rucker leading the group, defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie anchoring the sack attack this year, plus a pair of former top-rated, 5-star recruits in Des Evans and Travis Shaw.

There’s another lineman in that group who, after today’s performance in a 35-11 domination of Florida State, should be getting plenty more attention.

That lineman is none other than Beau Atkinson, the in-state sophomore from Raleigh, who recorded a career, team and game-high 3 1/2 sacks against the Seminoles today.

All 3.5 of Atkinson’s sacks came in the first half, during which North Carolina held FSU to just three points and under 100 yards. Atkinson enjoyed another big game at Virginia last weekend, recording four tackles (three solo) and his first two sacks of the Tar Heels’ 2024 campaign.

With Atkinson bursting through FSU’s offensive line today for 3.5 sacks, he surpassed his 2023 total of – you guessed it – 3.5.

UNC’s defense historically isn’t great, but having new guys step up each week, are major reasons why UNC is starting to suddenly look like a competent program.

North Carolina’s defense couldn’t catch a break in losses to James Madison (70 points allowed), Duke (21 second-half points allowed), Pitt and Georgia Tech (1,000 combined yards). The Tar Heels also weren’t generating pressures in those games, with just five total sacks – and none against Pitt or Georgia Tech.

With Rucker and Ritzie both in their final year of eligibility, Atkinson looks primed to take over as UNC’s 2025 leader along the defensive line. Just how much more can Atkinson improve through North Carolina’s final three games?

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