Sexton won't play for UNC in '09

North Carolina quarterback Cameron Sexton, who rose from third-string to lead the Tar Heels to five victories in 2008, plans to graduate in May and "explore his options for continuing his playing career next season,'' the school announced.

Under NCAA rules, the redshirt junior can't transfer to Division I-A or I-AA, but he could use his final year of eligibility at a Division II school.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” Sexton said in a prepared statement. “I’m considering all my options, including the possibility of transferring to a Division II institution to play one more year. I have always been a competitor and I have more goals I want to accomplish on the football field. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities I had at North Carolina.”

Sexton, who grew up in Laurinburg, was a part-time starter as a redshirt freshman under then-coach John Bunting, then backed up T.J. Yates as a sophomore under coach Butch Davis, and was third-string behind Yates and Mike Paulus to begin the 2008 season.

But after Yates broke his ankle and Paulus was ineffective, he came off the sideline to lead UNC to a comeback victory at Maryland. In all, the Tar Heels — who finished 8-5 — went 5-2 with Sexton at the helm. But after he struggled at Maryland, a rehabilitated Yates returned to the starting lineup Nov. 22 against N.C. State.

In all, Sexton completed 94 of his 168 pass attempts with nine touchdowns and six interceptions in 2008, and leaves Carolina 152-for-305, with 13 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for his career.

His decision to graduate leaves Carolina with little game experience at back-up quarterback. Paulus has completed only 4 of 13 passes with two interceptions in his career.

“Cam was an inspiration to our football team for his perseverance and determination,” Davis said in a statement.  “He gave everything he had to this program and Carolina fans will always remember the highlights he provided in 2008 as he helped this program to a bowl game.  Cam has great character and has always represented the University in a first-class manner. I congratulate him on receiving his degree and I will do all I can to help him in the future.”