As the Tar Heels get set to take on Duke in a key ACC Coastal matchup, it will do so without nickelback Brian Walker. UNC head coach Larry Fedora addressed the recent departure of Walker by suggesting Walker was looking for an opportunity to play more.
“He left on his own,” Fedora said, as quoted by The News Observer. “I think he’s interested in finding a place where maybe he can get more playing time.”
Walker was listed as a starting nickelback as recently as last Thursday’s game against Pittsburgh, although he gradually lost a hold of the starting job. Walker played in seven games for the Tar Heels, in whcih he recorded 12 tackles and broke up five passes. He has now been replaced by sophomore M.J. Stewart on the depth chart.
“It’s no different if you get an injury,” Fedora said of Walker’s departure, again via The News Observer. “You’ve got one less guy. So, we’ve dealt with a lot different things in that back end with our guys. So guys will step up and somebody else will have an opportunity to get those, I don’t know, 40 or 50 reps that (Walker) was getting.”