Hurricanes fullback Walter Tucker took to Instagram and Facebook on Wednesday to say he was “no longer a #cane.’’
His father, Walter Tucker Sr., confirmed to the Miami Herald that Tucker will be transferring after the semester.
"He's going to transfer, but we don't know where yet,'' Walter Tucker Sr. said. "He's going to find a new place. He has one more year of eligibility.''
Tucker's father, the assistant track coach at Dillard High, said Walter Jr. will likely look to play for an FCS school at which he wouldn't have to sit out a year before competing.
“I would like to say thank you to the university of Miami for letting me get this opportunity to attend and also play football,’’ Tucker posted. “For all my brothers that are on the team I love yall and I’ll see y’all boys at the top. I am no longer a #cane but thank you Miami for everything.’’
A message inquiring about Tucker's status was left for a UM spokesman, who was not immediately available.
Tucker, who graduated from Plantation American Heritage, played his first two high school seasons with St. Thomas Aquinas -- his sophomore season on the varsity team that won the state championship. He would have been entering his senior season. According to UM, Tucker played in eight games (primarily on special teams) as a true freshman in 2013, 12 games as a sophomore and 10 games this past season as a junior.
The 6-0, 225-pounder was a two-time state champion in the 110-meter hurdles at American Heritage, and state runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles.
Tucker was recruited to UM as a linebacker, but played fullback as a freshman. He was asked by former assistant coach Hurlie Brown to move back to linebacker after JaWand Blue and Alex Figueroa were arrested and kicked off the team.
Former UM coach Al Golden said before the 2014 season that Tucker could be expected to play offense and defense.
“I wouldn’t be honest if I told you I didn’t lose sleep a couple days there thinking, ‘Can he do both? Are we putting too much on him?’’’ Golden said.
Tucker did play one game as a linebacker and fullback, but was converted back to a fullback when coaches thought it, indeed, was asking too much.
This season, Tucker had two tackles and tallied eight yards on three carries. In 2014, he had one rush and one reception against Duke.
The Canes have Gage Batten back next season as a fullback.
Walter Jr., usually sporting a smile, always seemed to enjoy being a Hurricane. I wish him the best.
SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
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