Little willing to help out any way he can

Durham native moves back to receiver

CHAPEL HILL -- The benefit of having a versatile football player such as North Carolina's Greg Little is that he can do so many things. One of the challenges: finding the best way to use him.

To that end, the UNC coaches have moved the sophomore back to his original wide receiver position. Before Saturday's loss at Virginia, he had started eight straight games at tailback. He is also returning kickoffs again, as he did last year.

"I'm just stepping up to the plate," said Little, who caught two passes for three yards last weekend. "... Shaun [Draughn] is doing a great job in the backfield, and I understand that we need some help on the wideout end, and I know I can step up and make some plays there."

The Tar Heels made the move for several reasons -- the season-ending injury to wide receiver/kick returner Brandon Tate; Draughn's success at tailback (he has averaged 112.6 yards per game over the past three games); and Little's own inconsistency in the backfield.

Although the Durham native had his positive moments -- rushing 69 times for 230 yards and three touchdowns -- he never seemed completely comfortable at tailback, sometimes not hitting the hole at the right moment or not finding the hole at all.

"That's where you lose yourself, not being very decisive in where you run the ball," he said.

Coach Butch Davis called Little one of the team's best offensive weapons, adding that the move was made because the Tar Heels needed to find a way to get the ball into his hands.

Little said the hardest part of the switch isn't relearning the receivers' routes; it's getting back into condition for the position. He had put on 20 pounds since last year. In the past two weeks, he has lost five and is down to 225.

Little said he doesn't regret his time at tailback, because "I got to show a lot of people that I'm versatile at a lot of different positions, and I can do a lot of things and have some success."

So what is his best position?

"I don't even know,'' he said. "Wherever I can get into open space, I think that's where I'm best at. When I'm in the open field, I can make some things happen."

OTHER POSITION CHANGES: Former tailback Johnny White, who moved to defensive back near the end of last season, is back at tailback. Former H-back Ryan Taylor, who had moved to linebacker, has returned to H-back.

INJURY REPORT: Tight end Zack Pianalto (ankle) will miss his second straight game.

Linebacker Bruce Carter (ankle), offensive lineman Calvin Darity (leg), tight end Richard Quinn (knee) and defensive back Richie Rich (thigh) are expected to play.