New North Carolina offensive coordinator Seth Littrell spoke to the media for the first time Wednesday on National Signing Day. He discussed UNC’s incoming class, his offensive philosophy and more.
On coming to Chapel Hill:
It’s been awesome. Haven’t had a ton of time up here the past couple of weeks. Obviously, came in, and I hit the road running there this past week, but I did kind of get to know here over the weekend. Obviously, my wife’s had the opportunity to come down here and check out the town. We got a little chance to explore this past weekend. Obviously, it’s a very beautiful place, a great school, and we’re very happy to be a part of it.
On how similar his offense is to coach Larry Fedora’s:
Very. All the way going back to when, obviously, he was at Oklahoma State, I was at Texas Tech. Just the same spread offenses. The thing that they did a lot more of than we did at Texas Tech were use the tight ends and then when we made the transition to Arizona and had some really solid guys over there, started using that personnel grouping a lot more, and obviously, the last couple of years in Indiana, we’ve done the same thing. Personnel-wise we match up very well. Philosophy wise, it’s very similar. So I think it’ll be an easy transition.
On whether or not he drinks Red Bull:
Lots of Red Bull, lots of coffee. Every day.
On quarterback signee Caleb Henderson:
Well, obviously, I have had a chance to talk to him. Very impressive kid. Really enjoyed his personality and got along with him very well with talking to him over the phone and his in-home visit. Also, you know, you watch him on film. First thing that stands out is he has a cannon. Very strong arm, does a great job with accuracy, but a bigger kid, and you think he’s a more pro-style guy, but he has the athleticism to move around and run the football, which brings another dimension to his game that poses problems for defenses. So I think he’s a very well-rounded player. Obviously, going to come in here and compete and just needs to continue to grow and develop and compete every day to get to where he wants to be.
On running back signee Elijah Hood:
Well, was he on my radar? No. Not where we were at. Obviously, he was on everybody’s radar, but obviously being a kid out this way, he made the perfect choice, I can promise you that. Great guy. I had the chance to sit down and talk with him once I got in here this week. We have had some conversations. Very impressive kid. Obviously, very talented and the film speaks for itself. Very excited to have the opportunity to work with him, and you know, along with all the other guys. I think it’s an impressive group, a great class and for what I’ve seen on film here — I’ve watched every game film from the past couple seasons — there’s a lot of talent around here, and we’re going to continue to improve and get better each and every day, and I’m excited about the group.
On redshirt freshman Mitch Trubisky’s shot at winning starting quarterback:
Each and every day, you’re going to compete every day you go out on the field. And obviously, you heard coach Fedora, the best guy’s going to end up playing. And I don’t have favorites. I don’t care if you’re a freshman or if you’re a senior. Each and every day you go out on the practice field you prove yourself, and if he’s the best guy, he’ll start. And that’s kind of how it works in football. But obviously, I have had a chance to talk with him. Very impressive kid. Really enjoyed our conversation. I do remember him coming out of high school. We were looking at him. He was on our radar, so again, I know what he brings to the table, and I’m very excited to get a chance to work with him.
On who stands out on offense:
All of them. All of them. I mean, honestly, I can’t sit here and tell you I know every kid inside and out. Again, watching the tape and just the guys that I’ve met here the past couple days who have been up and around the office, just being in the office a couple of days when they’ve been in a working environment, so I got a lot of names to memorize and remember, and the biggest thing is going out and building relationships. I think that’s what this is all about. Building relationships and going out there and competing with these guys and building a family, and that’s what it needs to be each and every day.
On what attracted him to UNC:
Well, obviously, I think even growing up in Oklahoma pretty far away, everybody knows about the brand of North Carolina, and it’s a great education. You can recruit the best athletes in the country, and to be honest with you, one of the best places to live in the country, so it has a lot to offer for a person like me and also knowing this coaching staff and coach Fedora and knowing that things that he’s done as an offensive coordinator and a head coach and the successes he’s had, and just all the way around, the people here. It was a great opportunity for me, and me and my wife decided it would be the best opportunity for us.
On his input with the offensive playbook:
Well, we’ve sat down, and we’re going to talk as a staff, an offensive staff, and obviously with coach Fedora, and we’ll sit down and do the best thing that fits our players. I think each and every year you have to evolve as an offense, you have to evolve as a team. We’re always looking to be better, and whether it’s implementing new things or getting better at the things that you have, what fits your players the best. And we’ll break it down and talk about that a little bit more over the next couple of weeks. We have a couple more hires, obviously, guys that are coming in. We’re very excited about that. We’ll sit down and figure it out as a staff, and we’re going to do everything as an offensive staff, as a unit. And that’s how it’s always been everywhere I’ve been, and it’s not going to change here.
On what UNC needs to do to evolve:
We’ll find out. Again, we have to sit down as an offensive staff. We’ve got to study the cut-ups and figure out what the true strengths and weaknesses were last season. Maybe it was some plays, maybe it was, for the success we’ve had, putting guys in the right position. Maybe at times they were in the wrong position. It comes to coaches and players alike. We’re all in this thing together, and sometimes those players bail you out of a lot of things. And sometimes you call a play, and they just don’t make a play. At the end of the day, you have to really study yourselves at the end of the season and then try to come together as a staff and figure out what’s best for our team. And trust me, the next couple of weeks we’ll be grinding that out for the spring.
On transitioning to the ACC:
To be honest, nothing really jumps out at me. When it’s all said and done, with as many offensive types we run in the spread offense it’s kind of every conference has them. Obviously, there are way more multiple in defense these days because of where the offenses have gone with the tempo and being very multiple on offense forces defenses to have to adjust a lot. So it’s changed, really. It’s changed over the past two, three, four, five years, and it continues to, so every conference is dealing with the same thing, so obviously, again, it’s really about going out and making sure your team is the best it can be and going out and competing.
On Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson:
Yeah, obviously, coach Wilson, unbelievable head coach and great friend of mine. I have a lot of respect for him and the things that he taught me over the years. I learned a ton of football under a guy like that, and I really respected and enjoyed the time I had with him. And, obviously, this is his alma mater, and he loves it. He had an unbelievable time here, and obviously it’s a great place, so I’ve heard a lot of great things.
On the incoming talent:
Yeah, I’ve seen the offensive guys on tape. Obviously, as you’re going through it and as you’re coming in, you’re always going to look on that side of the ball and see what they have, and I’m very excited about the group. There’s a lot of very talented players coming in, guys that are going to be highly competitive. And more than anything, coach said it best, we’re looking for guys with great characters, and I think all those guys fit that bill, and I’m excited to get to work with all of them. I really am.
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