North Carolina’s season-long player attrition issue has reared it’s ugly head yet again today, but -- surprise!!! -- not due to the ongoing NCAA investigation into the football program.
Head coach Butch Davis confirmed Monday afternoon that starting tight end Zach Pianalto will miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering a broken leg in the Tar Heels’ 44-10 win over Virginia Saturday. Pianalto broke the fibula in his right leg in the second quarter after making his third catch of the game.
Davis said there’s a chance the senior could return for a bowl game. The school wrote in a press release that the TE will undergo additional evaluation this week to determine if surgery is required.
“It’s really a shame,” Davis said. “He is such a terrific kid. There’s almost nobody in this program that puts more heart and soul into playing and preparing and practicing and goes out there and plays as hard as he (Pianalto) does.”
Pianalto’s 30 receptions and 311 receiving yards are both tops on the team. He’s the ACC’s No. 5 receiver in receptions per game, and also holds the school season and career receptions mark for tight ends.