In the world of sports hype, defensive linemen have attained star status with quarterback sacks and big tackles for losses. They are the guys who pump their arms and single themselves out for a one-man salute, sometimes after routine tackles.

Those guys on the other side of the line usually stand up, return to the huddle and get ready for the next play. They are rarely demonstrative.

Go to a defensive lineman and tell him you would like for him to switch to offense, and he is likely to go into a full pout. It's as if he was on a job and suddenly got demoted in salary and status.

Carolina rising junior Greg Elleby was a defensive tackle and defensive end until this past spring.

The Tar Heels could play as many as 10 defensive linemen in a game rotation this fall, whereas offensive line coach Sam Pittman is battling just to have a true two-deep across the offensive line. And playing the offensive line is much tougher for most young players than moving in quickly along the defensive line. It will be difficult for the freshmen to come in and have a significant impact at that position.

So Coach Butch Davis came to Elleby two days into spring practice and suggested the rising junior from Tabor City make the switch.

"He told me it would be a great move for me," Elleby said. "It will give me a better shot at playing and just being on the field. And I just like Coach Pittman."

Elleby said that required a mental adjustment.

"Defensive linemen, we want to give the hits, not take the hits," Elleby said. "I was that type of person. But now I really like it. My old buddies on the defensive line, I like going against them. I'm really enjoying it."

He spent much of spring practice just learning what to do.

"During spring ball, the basic thing with me was learning the plays," Elleby said.

Since then, he's been focusing more on how to do it.

"This summer, I'm still learning the plays, but I'm working more on my technique, working on my steps, working on pulling," he said.

His greatest challenge has been to become better at run blocking.

"If I focus on that a lot and do great at that," Elleby said, "I will be on the field every game. I want to be a player that can help the team."

Now he suddenly likes his new job -- and colleagues.

"They are a close group," Elleby said. "They hang out together. They accepted me just like I had been an offensive lineman for the last three years. They have helped me and encouraged me to become a great player.

"I like pass blocking," Elleby said. "During spring ball, we would do one-on-one with the defensive linemen. It was just me against one of my old buddies on the defensive line. I would want to just take his head off. I love that."

He also made a discovery as soon as he began blocking instead of trying to shed blocks

"The first day I got there, I realized that defensive linemen are really, really dirty," Elleby said. "I was a defensive lineman myself, and I was being a dirty person. They try to trip you and throw you down. You can't hold them (on offense), but you have to keep your base with them. If you move your hands out, you're going to be holding. I respect those offensive linemen. It's hard, taking on a hit, adjusting to the hit and trying to move those big defensive linemen. I really respect the offensive linemen now."

Elleby is just hoping this switch puts him on the field more often.

"I really do believe this has been beneficial to me," Elleby said. "I believe this is going to give me a chance to play a lot of football this year. I can help the team with the depth issue.

"I had a meeting with Coach Pittman, and he said I have to be game ready," Elleby said. "He said to watch film, study, listen to the other guys and keep trying to get better on my technique, and learn the plays. That is what I'm doing every day."

Eddy Landreth can be reached at chnsports@nando.com