CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina football coach Larry Fedora met with the media Monday at the Kenan Football Center for his first weekly press conference of the 2017 season.

The head coach addressed numerous issues surrounding his team and its opening opponent, California, which kicks off with the Tar Heels on Saturday at noon.

A primary focus of the presser dealt with the ongoing quarterback battle, which we addressed in this piece. Also, wide receiver, running back, the offensive line and other spots.

Of note, there are 12 positions still up for grabs, including on special teams. Quarterback has “Or” next to both Brandon Harris, who’s listed first, and Chazz Surratt, who’s listed second. Nathan Elliott is third.

Also, tight end, one of the backup wide receiver positions, all four defensive line spots, Nickelback, placekicker for field goals and extra points plus kickoffs, and holder have an "Or" next to names listed.

Fedora is admittedly nervous about everything that can go wrong in a game and with the many unknowns heading into Saturday, it’s two-fold. Whether or not that staff believes the team is ready, they have a game to play regardless.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” Fedora said. “That’s why I said as a staff there’s never enough reps. There’s always that unknown as a coach what’s a new guy gonna do. You’re trying to put him in as many situations in practice as possible so you get a feel for how he’s going to react in a game.

“And then you still don’t know until you get into a game and he’s hit in the face with adversity, and how’s he gonna react at that point? That’s the thing that keeps you awake at night.”

Here is the depth chart for the Cal game:

Left Tackle

75 - Bentley Spain (6-6, 310, Sr.)

67 – Charlie Heck (6-7, 300 Soph.)

Comment: Spain has missed almost the last two weeks of practice and may not play Saturday.

Left Guard

58 – Nick Polino (6-4, 290 RS Fr.)

64 – Khaliel Rodgers (6-3, 315 Gr.)

Center

54 – Cam Dillard (6-4, 310, Gr.)

55 – Jay-Jay McCargo (6-3, 295 RS Fr.)

Right Guard

76 - R.J. Prince (6-6, 320, Sr.)

70 – Jonathan Trull (6-4, 310 Jr.)

Comment: Fedora said Prince had a great camp, though he did move around a lot, and even as recently as last Monday got some work in at right tackle.

Right Tackle

51 - William Sweet (6-7, 300, Soph.)

72 – Mason Veal (6-5, 305 Soph.)

Comment: Veal had worked at guard the last two seasons, but moved to tackle this month out of need and has performed pretty well in practice.

Tight End/Y

82 - Brandon Fritts (6-4, 250, Jr.) OR

86 – Carl Tucker (6-2, 255, Soph.)

80 – Jake Bargas (6-4, 245 Soph.)

Comment: Expect all three players to get on the field, but Fritts and Tucker are more like co-starters, especially since the Heels are expected to employ more two-tight end sets this fall than has been the norm.

Quarterback

6 – Brandon Harris (6-3, 220 Gr.) OR

12 – Chazz Surratt (6-3, 215 RS Fr.) OR

11 – Nathan Elliott (6-1, 215 Soph.)

Tailback

2 – Jordon Brown (5-10, 195 Soph.) OR

8 – Michael Carter (5-9, 195 Fr.)

Comment: Fedora said that even though Brown ran the ball just 20 times a year ago, the action he got has been big in helping him prepare for this season.

“He traveled the entire year, so he’s been through a game day situation, the night in the hotel, just all of the different things that you tend to overlook but they’re different for a new player. So from every aspect, from the bus ride from the hotel to the victory walk, the victory walk into the stadium, what you do in pre-game, you’re personal plan, how you prepare yourself for the game. All those little things for me I worry about for every one of these guys until they get some experience and they’ve done it.”

Brown has obviously done that, in addition to carrying the ball 20 times last season. Fedora also said they will for certain play multiple players at this position.

Wide Receiver

7 - Austin Proehl (5-10, 185, Sr.)

10 – Jordan Cunningham (6-2, 190, Sr.)

13 – Josh Cabrera (6-3, 205 Jr.)

Wide Receiver

48 – Thomas Jackson (5-11, 200, Sr.)

19 – Dazz Newsome (5-11, 175 Fr.)

85 – Roscoe Johnson (6-1, 190 RS Fr.)

Comment: Newsome was with the first and second team from day one and never really experienced hitting a freshman wall. He has been solid-to-spectacular and will get reps this weekend.

Wide Receiver

17 – Anthony Ratliff-Williams (6-1, 205, Soph.)

21 – Devin Perry (6-2, 200 Jr.)

13 – Josh Cabrera (6-3, 205 Jr.)

Comment: Regarding the entire wide receiver group, Fedora said, “I like that we have some depth in this group,” he said. “There’s some youth, there’s not a whole lot of experience – Austin Proehl has the most experience and he’s done a good job of leading this group. But we’ve had some guys from Jordan Cunningham and Dazz (Newsome), Roscoe Johnson has made some nice improvement.

“I’ve watched these young guys come through and really make some nice plays in practice, so I’m excited about seeing what they do Saturday.”

Defensive End

12 – Tomon Fox (6-3, 245 RS Fr.) OR

53 – Malik Carney (6-3, 235, Jr.)

Defensive Tackle

97 - Jalen Dalton (6-6, 295, Jr.) OR

55 – Jason Strowbridge (6-4, 270, Soph.)

Defensive Tackle

92 - Aaron Crawford (6-1, 310, Soph.) OR

49 - Jeremiah Clarke (6-5, 315, Jr.)

Defensive End

95 - Tyler Powell (6-4, 270, Sr.) OR

17 – Dajaun Drennon (6-4, 245, Sr.)

Comment: Fedora and DL coach Deke Adams have said this group is deep and each of the players listed here are essentially starters. Adams suggested last week the front line could go 10 deep.

Will Linebacker

36 - Cole Holcomb (6-1, 225, Jr.)

25 – Ayden Bonilla (6-2, 225, Jr.)

Mike Linebacker

10 - Andre Smith (6-0, 240, Jr.)

7 – Jonathan Smith (6-1, 230 Soph.)

Sam Linebacker

23 - Cayson Collins (6-1, 230, Sr.)

3 – Dominique Ross (6-3, 210 Soph.)

Cornerback

6 - M.J. Stewart (5-11, 205, Sr.)

5 – Patrice Rene (6-2, 205, Soph.)

Free Safety

1 – Myles Dorn (6-2, 210 Soph.)

16 – D.J. Ford (6-3, 210, Soph.)

Comment: Fedora said, “Myles Dorn has got a chance to be a start, I really think so. If he keeps progressing the way he has, he’s going to be not just a good football player but a great football player. He really understands what he’s doing back there, he’s more vocal now. He’s a part of it, but at the same time he’s taken a lot of ownership in it now.

“Last year, he was just part of the secondary just trying to do his job. Now, he understands the job of everybody and how he fits and how he can get people in the right places and communicate with them.”

Strong Safety

15 - Donnie Miles (5-11, 210, Sr.)

29 - J.K. Britt (6-0, 200, Jr.)

Cornerback

18 – Corey Bell, Jr. (5-9, 185, Jr.)

9 – K.J. Sails (5-11, 175, Soph.)

Comment: Fedora mentioned Bell’s name twice when talking with the media during fall camp. He wasn’t asked about him, this he brought his name up on his own.

Nickelback

6 - M.J. Stewart (5-11, 205, Sr.)

18 – Corey Bell, Jr. (5-9, 185, Jr.)

Place-kicker

98 - Freeman Jones (6-0, 210, Jr.) OR

97 – Noah Ruggles (6-3, 180 Fr.)

Kickoff Specialist

98 - Freeman Jones (6-0, 210, Jr.) OR

97 – Noah Ruggles (6-3, 180 Fr.)

Punter

39 – Tom Sheldon (6-3, 205, Soph.)

91 – Hunter Lent (6-5, 230, Jr.)

Deep Snapper

41 - Kyle Murphy (6-2, 240, Sr.) - PK

61 - Tommy Bancroft (6-4, 230, Jr.) - P

Holder

16 – Manny Miles (6-0, 215 Jr.) OR

91 – Hunter Lent (6-5, 230 Jr.)

Kickoff Return

17 – Anthony Ratliff-Williams (6-1, 205, Soph.)

19 – Dazz Newsome (5-11, 175 Fr.)

6 - M.J. Stewart (5-11, 205, Sr.)

Punt Return

7 - Austin Proehl (5-10, 185, Sr.)

6 - M.J. Stewart (5-11, 205, Sr.)

Comment: Fedor said, “We had a pretty good battle there. It really came down to him and M.J. (Stewart) and Dazz Newsome, and we had a really good battle. As we continued through the camp it was obvious that (Proehl) was the guy that gave us the best chance at making a play back there and on a consistent level.”