Tar Heels Short on Depth at Quarterback

SportSaturday Editor

North Carolina quarterback Ronald Curry is keeping an optimistic outlook on the season and his personal health.

"Hopefully, I can play the whole season," said Curry, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon and missed the final six games of the 1999 season. "I'm playing for the team, not really playing for everybody else. I'm just going to do what the coaches ask. Everything's not going to be smooth sailing, so I've got to go out and do the best I can do."

All it would take is an injury to Curry to suck a massive amount of air out of the Tar Heels' sails.

With junior Luke Huard out of the backup picture because he left the team Tuesday, redshirt freshmen Darian Durant and Aaron Leak stand as the primary go-to guys in case Curry goes down.

Durant has steadily solidified his spot as the No. 2 quarterback in the preseason, finishing 11 of 16 for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the team's Aug. 15 scrimmage. Leak went 3 of 4 for 49 yards in that game.

Much like Curry, the 5-foot-11, 227-pound Durant has a strong arm and is mobile, fitting well into the scheme that first-year offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill has instituted for this season.

"We're both run-pass quarterbacks, and what we try to do is use the running to our advantage," Durant said. "Because a lot of defenses these days, they're just as fast. So you've got to be able to make things happen, and both of us can do that, so I think we're in a pretty good situation."

Durant also should benefit from developing under Curry, wise beyond his years after having to adjust to three different offenses in his career at UNC.

"I'm real comfortable because there's nothing better than playing behind a guy like that," Durant said. "He's not selfish at all about giving me a few tips about what to do in certain situations, so there couldn't be a better situation I could be in than to be behind him."

Huard was the only one of the backups with any college game experience, but he reported to camp heavier than the coaching staff wanted and was not allowed to practice.

He didn't take a snap in a game last season after finishing his freshman year 29 of 75 for 256 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

UNC announced Tuesday that Huard has decided he will not return to the team but will remain at school on scholarship.

"I feel it is in my best interest for my health and my future that I step aside from playing football," Huard said in a statement. "This is the toughest choice I've ever made considering football has been a huge part of my life, as I've been playing since I was nine years old."