Former UNC quarterback Cameron Sexton's ankle injury is only a minor sprain, his father said Sunday night. Brent Sexton said he wasn't certain whether his son, now the starter at Division II Catawba, will be able to practice this week, but he will play again this season

"Cam is in good spirits, and we're just all thankful it wasn't anything more serious,'' Brent Sexton said.

Former UNC quarterback Cameron Sexton, now the starter at Division II Catawba, has been taken to the hospital for X-rays on his right ankle, a Catawba spokesman said.

Sexton, a part-time starter for the Tar Heels last season, was hurt on the third play of Catawba's game against Fayetteville State -- on a late hit, and his first pass of the game.

The team spokesman said later Saturday evening that he probably wouldn't know the extent of the injury until Sunday. 

Photo gallery: Sexton leads Indians over St. Aug's 

RALEIGH — It was difficult to tell what made quarterback Cameron Sexton more emotional on Saturday: leading his new Catawba team to a 25-7 victory over St. Augustine's at Broughton High School, or having more than a dozen of his former North Carolina teammates there to congratulate him afterwards.

North Carolina quarterback Cameron Sexton called his decision to graduate in May and use his final year of eligibility at a Division II school "bittersweet." The redshirt junior discussed his choice with several reporters Tuesday afternoon.

Q: Can you take us through the how and why you came to this decision?

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.

Citing T.J. Yates' experience as a starter and a sense that he's making progress, UNC football coach Butch Davis says that the sophomore quarterback, and not Cameron Sexton, will start again when the Tar Heels face Duke at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham.

Yates, who returned to the lineup after missing six weeks because of a broken ankle, struggled with his mechanics in a 41-10 home loss last weekend to N.C. State. But after two days of practice, a chance to study the game film and consult with his staff, Davis decided Yates is ready. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound passer completed 10 of 22 passes for 116 yards and no touchdowns against State, threw an interception and was sacked three times, still looking a little gimpy.

Sexton, a 6-1 junior, replaced Yates after three quarters and was 4-of-6 for 31 yards and two interceptions.

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.

CHAPEL HILL — After discussing the situation with his staff Sunday night, North Carolina coach Butch Davis said today he is not going to name a starting quarterback for Saturday's game against N.C. State right now.

Instead, he said he's going to tell both Cameron Sexton and T.J. Yates that they "need to be prepared to play," and that whoever gives the team the best chance to win wil start.

Sexton admitted he played his worst game of the season during UNC's 17-15 loss at Maryland. Yates, who fractured his left ankle in September, has played in only one series since.

North Carolina quarterback Cameron Sexton called his performance during the Tar Heels' 17-15 loss at Maryland on Saturday the his worst of the
year.

But when Butch Davis was asked Sunday whether he would give any thought to starting T.J. Yates, he said: "No."

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — North Carolina quarterback Cameron Sexton said his performance during his team’s 17-15 loss at Maryland on Saturday “was easily the worst football game I’ve played this year; it will probably go down as one of my worst.”

Sexton completed only 10 of his 24 passes, fumbled the ball in the first half and tossed an interception on No. 17 UNC’s final offensive play of the game.

Immediately after the game, the junior had few answers.