UNC QB Marquise Williams to miss spring practices with hip injury

North Carolina starting quarterback Marquise Williams will miss spring practices while he recovers from a hip injury, the school announced via its website.

Backup Mitch Trubisky will take all the first team reps in Williams’ absence.

Just because Williams isn’t suiting up doesn’t mean the coaches don’t expect the same type of effort out of him. Quarterbacks coach Keith Heckendorf told GoHeels.com, that he wants Williams taking mental reps while the team goes through drills.

"I want [Williams] to get as much out of spring ball as anyone,” Heckendorf said. “When he walks off the practice field I want him to be exhausted mentally from concentrating on every read and every play on every progression on every defense."

Heckendorf also noted that Williams was still the starter, but that the competition was not yet closed.

Williams and Trubisky were in a fierce competition for the starting role at the beginning of the 2014 season and split time at starter through the first month of the season before Williams eventually won the job. Williams threw for 3,068 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions and ran for 788 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014.

For more North Carolina news, visit TarHeelIllustrated.com.

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