Tag: Beau Atkinson

UNC defensive line duo amongst college football’s best Week 10 edge rushers

Kaimon Rucker and Beau Atkinson give UNC not one, but two, imposing pass rushers for opposing defenses to deal with.

When you talk about the best defensive lineman in college football for over the past two weeks, look no further than the North Carolina Tar Heels.

UNC generated 10 sacks in a 41-14 road blowout of Virginia, led by three from star edge rusher Kaimon Rucker. Reserve lineman Beau Atkinson added two, while Antavious Lane, Amare Campbell, Alijah Huzzie, Jahvaree Ritzie and Des Evans all added one each

In a 35-11 road stomping of Florida State on Saturday, North Carolina tacked on seven more sacks – led again by Atkinson and Rucker. Atkinson generated a game-high 3.5, while Rucker added one.

Particularly for their performance in the FSU game, Atkinson and Rucker were two of the country’s highest-graded edge rushers.

PFF College graded Rucker at 88.8, while it gave Atkinson a grade of 83.6.

Rucker was fourth amongst Power Four edge rushers, behind Stanford’s David Bailey (90.9), South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart (89.8) and NC State’s Devin Vann (89.8).

Atkinson landed sixth amongst Power Four edge rushers – behind Kentucky‘s Tre’Vonn Rybka, but ahead of Indiana’s Mikail Kamara and Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmeilen.

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There was some offseason concern Rucker might elect for the NFL Draft, but his return bolstered a unit that severely underperformed for the Tar Heels in 2023. Rucker missed time earlier this season while recovering from an injury, but he’s shined since fully healthy, notching 17 tackles, four sacks and an interception.

Atkinson, a sophomore from Raleigh, increasingly looks like the future leader of UNC’s defensive line. Atkinson recorded 3.5 sacks in 2023 – and already surpassed that total in two 2024 games.

If North Carolina wants to continue its recent hot streak, more big games from its D-line duo are a crucial key.

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Omarion Hampton and Beau Atkinson earn well-deserved ACC Weekly Honors

North Carolina dominated Florida State across the board in ACC football action on Saturday afternoon. Omarion Hampton and Beau Atkinson were the Tar Heels’ greatest factors.

All of a sudden, the North Carolina Tar Heels look like a competent ACC football program.

On Saturday, UNC dominated Florida State, a preseason CFP contender, 35-11 in a game which was decided in the second quarter. North Carolina’s defense played a massive role in the outcome, but it was star running back Omarion Hampton who nearly single-handedly gave his team a victory.

The Tar Heels generated seven sacks, led by 3.5 from reserve lineman Beau Atkinson. UNC held the Seminoles to under 100 yards in the first half, then 201 throughout the whole game.

Hampton scored a career-high five touchdowns: four on the ground, then a 49-yard score on a shovel pass from Jacolby Criswell.

For their impacts on Saturday’s game, it’s no surprise that Atkinson and Hampton were named ACC Players of the Week. The ACC tabbed Atkinson Defensive Lineman of the Week, plus it named Hampton Running Back of the Week.

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Hampton continues to showcase he’s one of the best running backs in program history, generating 265 scrimmage yards to go along with his five touchdowns. Hampton currently sits at 1,178 rushing yards, his second-consecutive season with over 1,000 yards, plus he continues to climb the program’s all-time rushing yards list.

Atkinson, who isn’t listed as a starter on North Carolina’s depth chart, is quickly proving why he’ll be a key piece of the future. Atkinson has 5.5 sacks in his past two games, 6.5 this season and has nearly doubled his 2023 total.

The Tar Heels have a bye this coming weekend, then make their long-awaited return home to host Wake Forest on Nov. 15. If Hampton and Atkinson have big games, UNC will finally reach bowl eligibility.

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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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