GoHeels Exclusive: First Game Week Arrives

by Pat James

CHAPEL HILL—With the first game week of the North Carolina football team's 2017 season underway, Larry Fedora held his first weekly press conference on Monday inside the Kenan Football Center.

Here are five notes from the press conference, just five days before the Tar Heels face California in their season opener on Saturday:

Quarterback competition continues

The press conference coincided with the release of UNC's first public depth chart. And as Fedora has stated throughout the offseason, he said the quarterback battle remains ongoing.

LSU graduate transfer Brandon Harris, redshirt freshman Chazz Surratt and redshirt sophomore Nathan Elliott appeared on the quarterback depth chart, with the word "OR" separating their names. However, that – separation – is what Fedora said he still seeks.

"I would prefer, if I could pick it the way I want it, that somebody had separated two months ago, we had named a starter and that guy went forward as a starter," Fedora said. "But that's just not the way it is in this situation … We've got guys that are competing for a job, and we were hoping that somebody would separate sooner than now.

"It hasn't happened, but that doesn't change our plan and the way we go forward."

New year, same challenge

For the second straight season, UNC's first opponent is led by a first-year head coach.

After facing Georgia's Kirby Smart in last season's opener, the Tar Heels will host California's Justin Wilcox in his first game at the helm after replacing Sonny Dykes. That leaves the UNC coaching staff guessing on what schemes the Golden Bears will employ.

"There's a lot of unknown," Fedora said. "We're looking at a lot of tape, wasting a lot of time, when it comes down to it … So you spend a lot of time trying to over-prepare so that your kids have some kind of idea of what's going to happen in the game."

Ratliff-Williams keeps progressing

Several questions have surrounded the Tar Heels' receiving corps following the departures of Mack Hollins, Bug Howard and Ryan Switzer. But Fedora said he's seen several players in that group make improvements.

Among them is converted quarterback Anthony Ratliff-Williams, who is joined by Austin Proehl and Thomas Jackson as the first-team receivers on the depth chart.

"He has really come a long way because he's really started to understand the receiver position," Fedora said. "I kind of relate him to Ryan Switzer. It took Ryan a while to understand the receiver position, how you're trying to get open, concepts and all of those different things. And he became really good at it. Now you're starting to see Anthony turn that corner."

Options at running back

Like at quarterback, the running back position has yet to be solidified, with sophomore Jordon Brown and freshman Michael Carter listed as co-starters on the depth chart.

Auburn grad transfer Stanton Truitt, sophomore Johnathon Sutton and freshman Kayne Roberts could also see action, as Fedora said multiple tailbacks will be used against California.

"We've got to get a feel for the game, like we always do, with the running backs," Fedora said. "Who has the hot hand? Who's making the offense better when they're out on the field? That guy's going to get the majority of the snaps. But there's no doubt in my mind that we will probably play two to three guys at that position."

Fedora speaks about Hurricane Harvey

Fedora was born in College Station, Texas and played receiver at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where he also began his coaching career as a graduate assistant. Many of his friends and family members still live in Texas, and he said some have been forced to evacuate in recent days because of Hurricane Harvey.

"They're saying it's the worst thing that's ever hit down there in 800 years," Fedora said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them. I've noticed there's a lot of volunteers from all over the country who are going down to help. That's good to see that people are pulling together to go help.

"In a matter of a couple of days they've gotten more (rain) than they get in an annual rainfall," he continued. "The water just doesn't have anywhere to go. We probably don't know all of the devastation and won't know until probably another week or two weeks from now."

Players Mentioned

Jordon Brown

Michael Carter

Nathan Elliott

Brandon Harris

Mack Hollins

Bug Howard

Thomas Jackson

Austin Proehl

Anthony Ratliff-Williams

Kayne Roberts

Ryan Switzer

Stanton Truitt

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