Photo courtesy of University of North Carolina

North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (left) was a second-team All-ACC selection last season.

Last year, North Carolina won four games in Butch Davis' first season as head football coach.

But the Tar Heels, who haven't had a winning season since 2001, are expected to do much better this season.

While Virginia Tech has been picked to win the Coastal Division in an ACC media poll, UNC was chosen to finish second.

The Tar Heels have even higher expectations.

"We'll win the ACC this year," safety Deunta Williams said at the ACC's recent preseason media gathering in Greensboro, Ga.

Williams, the 2007 ACC defensive rookie of the year, is one of eight starters back on defense. Nine starters return on offense, including quarterback T.J. Yates and 2007 All-ACC second-team receiver Hakeem Nicks.

"No more excuses in our boat. We've hit rock bottom," Nicks said. "It's time for us to reach that peak that we're destined for.

"Guys are tired of losing. Everybody wants to be recognized. ... We just believe that it's our time."

The Tar Heels lost six games last year by seven points or fewer, including a 22-20 loss to Virginia and a 17-10 defeat at Virginia Tech. Turnovers, the running game and special teams were trouble areas.

UNC will start only three seniors on offense and one on defense.

"We're definitely moving the football program in the right direction, but we need more depth," said Davis, a former Cleveland Browns and University of Miami head coach. "We need more talent and speed."

The ground game figures to be better this year because sophomore Greg Little will start the season at tailback. He was moved there from receiver for the final two games last season and rushed for 247 yards.

"We needed a difference-maker," Davis said. "I regret to this day [not moving him earlier] because we might've gone to a bowl game last year."

Yates threw for a school-record 2,655 yards as a redshirt freshman last fall. But he missed all of spring practice this year because of surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder to repair his labrum.

"He's watched an awful lot of film this summer," Davis said. "That was the only way he could challenge himself to try to get better.

"He's bigger now, he's stronger now, because those were the only things he could work on, was lifting. So hopefully he'll be a little more durable."