This time last year, Larry Fedora was building up Bentley Spain as the leader of his offensive line.

The group lost several important players to graduation, so Spain assumed the role. It was an easy transition.

In the summer, when graduate transfer Cam Dillard arrived, he also immediately became a leader – and later the leader – of the line. That was also a natural evolution, as Dillard came from the University of Florida where he had started 19 games.

Both are gone, however, so a unit that must have strong leadership as part of its chemistry building process is searching for a vocal front man or two. And with William Sweet still rehabbing a knee injury from last September, fast-improving Charlie Heck might be stepping into that role.

“I would say that Charlie is starting to evolve into that position, he really is,” UNC Coach Larry Fedora said Thursday during the ACC’s annual spring football coaches’ teleconference. “I think Charlie has really had a great spring. He’s just now really understand what it means to play offensive tackle. He’s been a tight end his whole life, so he’s really starting to understand that, had a great spring.

“You do start seeing him start to come out of his shell more and be more vocal. He is very well respected on our football team, therefore he’s in a position of leadership.”

But Heck, a junior, hasn’t yet fully assumed the job. That can happen over the summer, which is a time when leadership is often established and/or set in stone. But he may have some help in that department.

“Jay-Jay McCargo at center is, and probably Nick Polino, who’s probably the older of the guys up there is doing a good job of it also,” Fedora said. “I feel good about where those guys are right now.”

Sweet, also a junior, started at left tackle last season before his campaign ended during the Tar Heels’ win at Old Dominion. Articulate, confident and quite talented, he would have been a natural to own the role, but he hasn’t returned to action yet.

Fedora believes Sweet has what it takes, but he must be out there to properly execute the role.

“It’s always hard when you’re injured,” the coach said. “It’s hard to try and lead when you’re not involved in the actual drills and you’re over there rehabbing and it’s just always hard. But I think William is well respected, I think everybody knows what he can do.

“William is one that is vocal and will talk and does a good job of communicating. So it’ll be good to get him back here this summer.”

As Fedora noted, Sweet will be back for the start of fall camp in August. He’s not far from being finished with rehabbing his knee. A sophomore, McCargo was also out for most of this spring with an injury, and he’s expected to make a full recovery before long, as well.

Jonah Melton is about at full strength, Luke Elder is there, and the rest of the offensive line that was so banged up before are either on track or have been released for full activity. That will also make leadership come quicker for Heck and whoever else corrals the job because it simplifies things.

Fedora didn’t speak definitively about leadership and his offensive line, perhaps throwing the challenge out there a bit more, but it’s clear he’s not worried about it. The group is in good hands long term.