CHAPEL HILL – We know it’s big news when a coach even mentions the possibility of an athlete playing both ways on the football field.

And UNC Head coach Larry Fedora is not joking around. He says he has the utmost confidence in tight end turned linebacker Jack Tabb.

But what does Tabb himself think about the chance of playing both offense and defense on game days this season?

“It’s truly an honor because only a few players in college football have the ability to do that. They have faith in me. I am going to work as hard as I can to prove I can do what they want me to do,” Tabb said.

Tabb admits there is a learning curve to playing at his new post at the linebacker position. But he says he’s confident in his abilities to handle his role on the defense.

“It’s been a little bit difficult because I haven’t played defense since senior year in high school. […] I think I’m pretty comfortable at the linebacker position now to where I can at least get the base stuff down,” Tabb said.

With all his time spent trying to score the football on the offensive end, Tabb says it is a little strange now lining up against his teammates on offense this preseason.

“They always give me a hard time. I see them every day. It’s fun still. It’s still fun,” Tabb quipped.

Coach Fedora labels Tabb as one of the brightest players he has coached. But Tabb says he’s pumped up about some pretty fundamental things this fall in Chapel Hill: scoring touchdowns and big plays.