QB Sexton will remain Tar Heels' starter

CHAPEL HILL — Quarterback T.J. Yates played in North Carolina's final offensive series against Georgia Tech last weekend, but junior Cameron Sexton will remain the Tar Heels' starter when they play at Maryland on Saturday.

"There's no question. He's going to continue to be the starting quarterback,'' coach Butch Davis said Wednesday. "And we still don't know to any stretch of the imagination right now, on T.J, how fully healthy that he is. Although he's played in a game, he hasn't had to scramble for his life, he hasn't had to take a sack, he hasn't gotten hit and had to uncover himself under a big pile of people.

"So [we have] guarded optimism; it's good to have him back, and it's great to have both of them out there throwing and being a part [of things]. The team knows that there are two guys that they believe would help us win games."

Yates, a sophomore, had missed the previous five games with a fractured left ankle, and completed one of his three pass attempts against the Yellow Jackets. His return pushes redshirt freshman Mike Paulus to third on the depth chart, but Davis said Paulus' mindset is fine.

"I think that he recognizes what T.J. did last year, what T.J. was doing throughout training camp and at the start of the season,''
Davis said. "And he certainly has recognized what Cam has done this year. I think he's watched that, and I think he recognizes how well both of those guys have played."

POWELL DISMISSED: Defensive end Darius Powell has been dismissed from the team for violating team rules, a UNC spokesman confirmed.
The sophomore reserve from Waldorf, Md., had recorded four tackles this season.

- Robbi Pickeral