CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina's T.J. Yates expects to be completing passes again next fall, trying to improve on his 2007 record-setting freshman season.

But in spring practice the focus will be on rising junior Cam Sexton and redshirt freshman Mike Paulus as Yates continues rehabbing from a December surgery on his throwing shoulder.

"I think T.J. will be healthy; I think he is already ahead of schedule,'' said coach Butch Davis, whose Tar Heels held the first of its 15 sessions Monday. "You never want your quarterback out. On the flip side, Cam and Mike will get decidedly more work; and there will be a lot more position competition [in August.]"

While Yates was setting a UNC season record for passing yardage (2,655) with 14 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, Sexton saw action in just one game last fall after starting five games during his freshman year.

Paulus, No. 10-ranked quarterback prospect by Scout.com in 2006, didn't play last season. But like Sexton, he flashes promise.

"Both [Cam and Mike] have been in the system for a year; both are very, very talented, have good arms and good minds,'' Davis said. "Now it's [about] execution. ... Go make decisions and see if you can move the team."

It was the decision-making ability that gave Yates the edge in last year's spring practice, Davis pointed out.

That didn't go unnoticed by Paulus, the brother of Duke basketball point guard Greg Paulus.

"I feel good about my throwing,'' said Mike Paulus, who tossed 29 TD passes his senior year at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, N.Y.

"It's who is the good decision- maker, who is efficient. Last year I learned a lot. I feel 110 percent better, physically [and] mentally."

Paulus is close with his brother at rival Duke, saying each is the other's "No. 1 fan."

What tips does the Duke Paulus give the Carolina Paulus?

"He says you can be physical at 6-4, 220 for so long, that pretty soon it gets mental," Mike said.

"He said: 'Get in the film room, work hard mentally. ...That's the difference in the good ones and the great ones.' I've got to take advantage [now] of these 15 practices to get better."

So there could be more intense competition at quarterback in August, which is what Davis wants.

"If we ever be the program we want to be -- go to bowl games, [win] ACC championships, get in the BCS -- we've got to have great position competition,'' he said.

HEEL MARKS: Finding a replacement for star place-kicker Connor Barth, plus getting a new snapper and holder is high on Davis' priority list.

Redshirt freshman Jay Wooten, rated among the top 20 placekicker prospects by Scout.com, is a candidate to succeed Barth.

* After gaining 300 yards in the last two games last season, Greg Little heads into the spring as the starting tailback. What Davis doesn't want again is running back "by committee." Johnny White, the fastest Tar Heel (4.32 40 test time), has moved from running back to corner.

* Overall, Davis said he expects to accomplish considerably more this spring than a year ago, when the staff was learning about personnel. Now they know players' strength and weaknesses, and the players are familiar with the system.