For the first time since injuring his hamstring against Rutgers on Sept. 25, UNC linebacker Quan Sturdivant is not on the Tar Heels' injury report.

Sturdivant has missed the past five games but appears to be ready to return for Saturday's game at Florida State.

Injured UNC linebacker Quan Sturdivant is closer to getting back on the field but still not 100 percent, UNC coach Butch Davis said Thursday.

Sturdivant has missed the past two games with an injured left hamstring. He suffered the injury early in the fourth quarter of UNC's 17-13 win at Rutgers on Sept. 25 and hasn't played since.

North Carolina's defense lost one reserve, defensive tackle Greg Elleby, for the season and is still without linebacker Quan Sturdivant.

Elleby, a senior, who has been an all-purpose reserve for the Tar Heels, tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in the second half of UNC's 42-17 win over East Carolina on Saturday and is out for the season.

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina lost running back Johnny White in the third quarter and linebacker Quan Sturdivant in the fourth to injuries in Saturday's 17-13 win at Rutgers.

UNC coach Butch Davis didn't know if either starter would be able to play against East Carolina this week.

UNC linebackers Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter have been cleared by the NCAA and will play against LSU in Saturday night's game in Atlanta, team spokesman Kevin Best said tonight.

Tar Heels safety Deunta Williams will not play against LSU. He is one of now seven players who have been found in violation of NCAA and/or school rules and are being held out of the game.

Sturdivant and Carter are on their way to Atlanta tonight to join the team, Best said. In total, 13 players, including nine starters - seven of them on defense - will be held out of the game.  

CHAPEL HILL — UNC football coach Butch Davis announced this morning that six junior players, including five of his defensive starters, will return for their senior seasons.

It had been widely speculated that UNC's defense, which held opponents to an ACC-low 267.8 yards a game this season, would be hit hard by early departures for this spring's NFL draft.

The press release that announced the end of Mark Paschal's football career pointed out that the senior linebacker is North Carolina's leading tackler, with 103 tackles.

Quite frankly, that number underestimates his value to the Tar Heels.