Things are moving fast in head coach Larry Fedora’s first preseason in Chapel Hill. A new up-tempo offense and aggressive defense have the Tar Heels in high gear. Here are three position battles to track:

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  1. Wide receiver: The Tar Heels dismissed senior Todd Harrelson just prior to the start of preseason practice. Soon after, sophomore T.J. Thorpe went down with a fractured left foot, and incoming freshman Quinshad Davis missed the start of practice with an injury. There’s no word on when he’ll be back. Seniors Erik Highsmith and Jheranie Boyd will be joined by sophomores Sean Tapley and Reggie Wilkins. It’s likely that freshman Kendrick Davis and Kendrick Singleton will play, and junior Roy Smith, who walked on from the track team, has moved up to second team on the depth chart.
  2. Defensive tackle: Two sophomores who played last year as true freshman are fighting for the starting job. Shawn Underwood has more experience, but he’s recovering from a shoulder injury that required surgery after spring practice. Brown had as many tackles last year (1) as quarterback Bryn Renner.
  3. Tight end: The TE is a major target in Fedora’s offense, especially with the WR position so thin. Sophomore Eric Ebron had 10 catches for 207 yards last year and impressed the coaches in spring practice. He’s the favorite to win the starting job, but he’ll be pushed by sophomores Jack Tabb and Sean Fitzpatrick.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.