Ever since losing Devontez Walker to the NFL Draft in April, the North Carolina Tar Heels have been looking for a wide receiver to step up and lead their pass-catching unit.

Several receivers have shown flashes of potential of UNC's first seven games, but no one showed a difference-making performance.

That all changed on Saturday afternoon.

In North Carolina's 41-14 drubbing of Virginia, which moved it two wins away from bowl eligiblity and to .500 overall on the season, graduate wide receiver J.J. Jones caught five passes for a career-high 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Jones' first touchdown reception gave the Tar Heels a lead they never relinquished, catching a 37-yard strike from Jacolby Criswell for a 6-3 advantage, with just over five minutes left in the first quarter.

With five seconds left in the first half, Jones pulled in a 31-yard strike from Criswell – even against pass interference from Cavaliers cornerback Jam Jackson. Jones' second score extended UNC's lead to 23-6, giving his team some much-needed breathing room going into halftime.

Today's outing was Jones' second-straight game with a touchdown, as he caught one two weeks ago against Georgia Tech.

Jones' previous 2024 yardage high came last month at archrival Duke, when he caught a touchdown as part of a 5-catch, 89-yard day. Jones recorded a season-best 711 receiving yards last year, catching passes from Drake Maye.

It's encouraging to see Jones develop this type of chemistry with Criswell, as North Carolina seems to finally have another big-play receiver.

What can Jones do for an encore next week in Tallahassee, as the Tar Heels look to move over .500 and get their second-straight ACC win, against a struggling Florida State squad?

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : J.J. Jones sets career high, steps up to lead UNC's offense in big win at Virginia