CHAPEL HILL - Now that North Carolina has determined a starter behind center -- it's redshirt freshman T.J. Yates for at least the first game -- another question looms: Who's going to start behind him?

Eleven days before UNC's season-opener against James Madison, four tailbacks remain in contention for playing time. Although coaches have seemed pleased with the progress of sophomore Richie Rich and freshmen Anthony Elzy, Ryan Houston and Johnny White, they're still waiting for a leader to emerge.

"All of them have had moments where they've looked good," running backs coach Ken Browning said Monday. "But I'm not sure that one of them has really separated as much as I had hoped, to be honest with you."

The main reason: They're inexperienced. Rich is the only one of the quartet who has rushed in a game, and his carry against N.C. State resulted in a 1-yard loss.

"That one I'd sort of like to forget,'' he said recently, shaking his head.

To that end, he and his fellow runners have been diligently studying their playbooks, working with the offensive line to hit holes faster and trying to find their niche. White and Rich, who Browning said have the best change-of-direction moves, played with the first team during Saturday's scrimmage.

Houston, a thick-legged power back, took snaps with the second team during Saturday's scrimmage. Elzy was still hampered by a sprained ankle, but he participated in limited drills Monday.

Two other tailbacks -- walk-on Justin Warren and freshman Anthony Parker-Boyd -- also were vying for playing time when practice began. But Warren quit the team last week, and Parker-Boyd moved to wide receiver, narrowing the field of contenders.

"The good thing about having four of us is, you'll always have a fresh runner in there,'' Houston said. "I don't know that anybody really cares who starts ... because we'll all be ready for our opportunity.

"And we'll all be in there, hopefully loosening up defenses for each other."

Although coach Butch Davis has said he expects to use a "committee" of running backs, Browning said the coaches will soon narrow down who gets the majority of reps in practice. The criteria: who has the best combination of running skills, pass-blocking ability and route-running prowess.

"We won't necessarily have the chance to get four guys ready,'' said Browning, who said he doesn't know yet how many he'll use in a game. "... But we'll have, I hope, four of them who know what to do."

That could be a plus if there are injury problems. But it would be a minus if UNC is looking to field its first 1,000-yard rusher since Jonathan Linton in 1997.

The latter isn't a goal, but it is a hope.

"We're going to be more focused on team totals,'' Browning said. "But I think there is a guy capable [of 1,000 yards] in that group. I don't know who it is yet."