North Carolina football team springs into practice

The late-season surge is now a distant memory. The departure of veteran leadership is now set in stone. And the Belk Bowl victory is now just crystal in a trophy case.

On Wednesday, the North Carolina football team had its first spring practice, marking a new beginning — what coach Larry Fedora calls “day one install” as he and his team prepare for the 2014 season.

But for Fedora, it’s still too early.

Too early to evaluate improvement, too early to name starters and too early to make predictions.

“We’re in shorts,” he said of his team, which practiced out of traditional practice and game attire. “I thought the enthusiasm, the excitement and the will to be good was there, yes.

“But we’re in shorts.”

One player that didn’t get the shorts memo was redshirt junior quarterback Marquise Williams, who started five games for the Tar Heels last season in place of the injured three-year starter Bryn Renner.

Williams sported his big-boy pants Wednesday as he looks to fend off redshirt freshman Mitch Trubisky in what Fedora has deemed an open competition for the first-string quarterback position.

But Williams hasn’t let go of his leadership mindset quite yet.

“I’m taking the keys to the Porsche this time,” Williams said. “It’s about business and making these guys believe in me. That’s the only thing I do — keep pushing these guys to be great.

“That’s the only thing I preach every day — just to be great.”

Some will have to be great in entirely new positions, such as cornerback-turned-safety Tim Scott.

With key losses of safety Tre Boston and cornerback Jabari Price to the NFL Draft, Scott is expected to be UNC’s primary voice in the secondary.

“At corner you’re getting the calls from the safety, and now that I’m safety I have to give the calls to corner, the linebacker and the (defensive)-line sometimes,” Scott said.

“So knowing that I’m a big vocal guy now instead of just listening is a real difference.”

Some of the younger players that will be listening to Scott are in their first semester at UNC. Five early player enrollees to the University — tailback Elijah Hood, offensive lineman Bentley Spain, tight end Brandon Fritts and defensive backs M.J. Stewart and Allen Artis — joined the team in January.

Wednesday marked their first full practice at Navy Field.

“They look good. Always look good at this time,” Fedora said.

“They’re a little big-eyed too because it’s a different tempo of a practice than they’re used to. They all have skills. All five of them have skills. And they will get better as they go.”

But again, like everyone else, they were only wearing shorts.

Sports Editor Michael Lananna contributed to reporting

sports@dailytarheel.com