UNC Football: What will Larry Fedora do at quarterback?

What will UNC head coach Larry Fedora do at the quarterback position moving forward as the Tar Heels face a tough test on Saturday against Virginia Tech

The North Carolina Tar Heels return to action Saturday after a bye week in which they came off a bad loss to the Miami Hurricanes on the road. Now, with just a few months left in the season the Tar Heels will need a drastic turnaround to become bowl eligible.

The remaining schedule doesn’t get any easier either.

Next up for the Tar Heels is a home showdown with unranked Virginia Tech under the lights at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill. Virginia Tech enters the game at 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference but are fresh off a home loss to Notre Dame.

UNC has had its fair share of struggles this year all-around and if they aren’t careful, Saturday night could get ugly in a hurry. While the Tar Heels do have some talent on the offensive side of the ball, head coach Larry Fedora has some decisions to make at the most important position on the field.

The Tar Heels’ quarterback play has been disappointing to say the least so far in 2018.

It all started when quarterback Chazz Surratt was among the players suspended prior to the season opener for selling shoes in the offseason. Surratt was suspended a total of four games, giving Nathan Elliott the starting job.

Last season, Fedora went into the year without a clear starter and both Surratt and Brandon Harris played in the season opener. It continued for most of the season until Surratt was hurt and then Elliott took over and started the final four games of the season, going 2-2.

Going into this season Surratt and Elliott were expected to battle for the starting spot with Fedora hoping to make a decision ahead of the opener. With Surratt’s suspension, Fedora’s decision was an easy one. The problem is Elliott hasn’t played well.

Through four games this season, Elliott is 75/129 for 773 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. The Tar Heels are 1-3 in those games started and outside of the Pitt game, they’ve struggled offensively. Fedora turned to Surratt during the Miami game and he didn’t fare much better himself.

During that Miami game, UNC quarterbacks turned it over 6 times with the Hurricane’s defense bringing 3 of those back for touchdowns to put the game away. It was an embarrassment and left many UNC fans wondering what’s next at the position?

Fedora spoke with the media during the bye week about the quarterback position and its regression while the offense is still progressing. The Tar Heels have some playmakers in Michael Carter, Antonio Williams, Anthony Ratliff-Williams and Dazz Newsome on this offense but without stability at quarterback, it’s a recipe for disaster.

See what the quarterback said via Inside Carolina:

Fedora will have a big decision to make this week on who should get the start. With Surratt back, the initial thought is to give him the ball for the rest of the season and hope that he develops.

He suffered a setback with an injury in 2017 and then missing the four games in early 2018.

With rumors swirling of Fedora’s job status, he’s going to go with the quarterback that gives him the best chance to win right now. And that’s Surratt with the hope that he can develop into the quarterback the Tar Heels hoped they were getting when he committed.

It’s unlikely we will see freshmen Cade Fortin who made an appearance late against ECU as it could cost him a year of eligibility. Fedora will likely want to keep Fortin’s redshirt although we likely will see him in at least two more games. With the new redshirt rule, players can play in up to four games and still keep their redshirt status.

Fortin has played in just one game but getting him some experience while keeping that red shirt.

But for now, expect Surratt to be the starter moving forward unless something goes terribly wrong.