UNC coach John Bunting announced Tuesday that Darian Durant beat out C.J. Stephens to reclaim the starting position.
"Statistically, all documentation bears out that (Durant) gets the job," Bunting said. "Darian's in better physical condition than he's been in. He's got experience -- beyond that, there's not much of a difference."
Bunting told the quarterbacks his decision Sunday night. Durant said he was ecstatic about the news.
"If you've got the head guy on your side, you've got everybody on your side," Durant said. "Hopefully I can go out there and make it look like a good decision."
"I think it was important for both of us," Durant said. "You get into a certain rhythm working with a certain group. It was going to be real important for either one of us to work with that group."
Bunting said he also plans to give Stephens some practice time with the first team and will grant him some minutes in Saturday's season opener against Miami (Ohio). Bunting said he would like to get Stephens in during the first half but hasn't devised a set plan to get the junior in the game.
"I do realize that I'm not exactly where I need to be, and just because of the sheer experience factor, Darian is a little ahead of me right now," Stephens said. "That's what's best for the team. I'm in full support of Darian."
Last season, while splitting time with Ronald Curry, Durant set single-season freshman records for touchdown passes, completions, passing yards and total offense.
He left the team for personal reasons in February and five weeks later rejoined the squad. Spring practice had already begun, with Stephens as the front-runner for the starting QB position.
Bunting welcomed Durant back to the team but made it clear he would have to earn a starting position.
Junior offensive guard Jeb Terry said he wasn't surprised that Durant did just that despite the turbulent off-season.
"No one lost respect (for Durant)," Terry said. "We were upset, but you don't lose respect for someone because they were unhappy.
"When he came back there was no earning back respect. There was a little bit of making sure he wanted to play for us. But he got his reps and worked his way back to the top."
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