UNC QBs split snaps in practice

CHAPEL HILL — Quarterbacks Cameron Sexton and T.J. Yates — who are competing to start Saturday vs. N.C. State — split practice snaps 50-50 Tuesday, coach Butch Davis said, and "both of them did good."

"They threw the ball well, they had good huddle presence and we didn't miss a beat regardless of which kid was in the huddle,'' he said.

Davis said he won't decide until the end of the week who earns the starting nod. Yates started 15 straight games until he fractured his left ankle on Sept. 20; the No. 25 Tar Heels are 5-2 with Sexton at the helm since.

He said both of them took the news that he was re-opening the job well.

"I spoke with both of them at the same time, and I told both of them, 'Look, this is a team game.' And I said, 'Both of you by nature of being a quarterback have an awful lot of influence in how either of you handle it. No matter who's the starter and who's the back-up ... it's really about this team trying to win this game, and getting prepared.''' Davis said.

"They're both great kids, and they're both on board. They are like, 'whatever it takes,' and unselfishly, I think both of them just want to win. ... As you saw, when Cam was playing, T.J. was his biggest cheerleader; he was pulling for him, cheering for him, talking to him. And I think it would be flipped if it was T.J. [starting], Cam would be doing the same thing. I told both of them, 'We already learned this lesson once this year, that either one of you is one sprained ankle away from being the guy after two plays in the game. Work, prepare as if you're going to be the starter, and whoever is not the starter, just be ready to go.'''