Junior Gnonkonde’s journey from Africa to UNC includes storybook moment at Georgia Tech

Posted Oct 5, 2015
Junior Gnonkonde, a junior defensive end at UNC, had grown up in Abidjan, the largest city in the African nation of Ivory Coast. He left home when he was 14 and wound up in Lakeland, in rural south Georgia. He arrived without knowledge of English and knew nothing about football. Yet there he was Saturday, in UNC’s victory at Georgia Tech, picking up a fumble while about 25 people from his U.S. hometown went wild. (Charlotte Observer)

Related: Football, Football Recruiting

UNC Football General Manager Michael Lombardi signs 3-year, $4.5M deal
UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi signed a 3-year contract worth $1.5 million annually, according to an appointment letter and contract signed July 31. The...
Tue Aug 5, 2025

UNC Long Snapper Spencer Triplett Named To Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List
North Carolina long snapper Spencer Triplett has been named to the 2025 Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List, announced Tuesday. The Patrick Mannelly Award is given...
Tue Aug 5, 2025

Carolina leads nation in rising football gameday costs, but fans aren’t flinching
The cost of cheering on the Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium has skyrocketed, and no school in the top 100 has seen a bigger jump...
Tue Aug 5, 2025

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - UNC Basketball Hosting Cloer, Thompson on Visits; More Football Commits
Top 2026 UNC basketball recruits Cole Cloer and Anthony Thompson plan official visits. Isaac Schade and Anthony Pagnotta discuss Cloer's game and five other key...
Tue Aug 5, 2025