AUBURN, Ala.—“He is no longer with us,” Harsin said.
Monday afternoon Walker took to Twitter to thank Auburn for his time and announce he will enter the transfer portal.
“This decision wasn't easy for me at all I struggled many days trying to figure out how I wanna go forward with this. I know this was bad timing with being in seasons but this is something that I don't take lightly my career is important to me. I anyone knows there were many cherish this place and my brothers that I went to war with, but I have put the team first long enough it's time I make a decision for me now,” Walker wrote. “I'm entering my name in the transfer portal l have to do what's best for me and my family.”
The junior was removed from Auburn’s official roster this week. Harsin added that Walker left the team after the Georgia game on October 8th.
Walker appeared in 21 games over the past three seasons while logging 20 tackles and one sack. In his only appearance this year against Georgia, Walker was unable to post a stat.
The former four-star recruit from Ellaville, Georgia, was ranked the 79th highest player in the 2020 class and third-highest rated defensive end in the country.
Walker battled injuries last season into the beginning part of this year. While recovering he faced some personal issues which delayed getting back to playing.
“He’s had a few personal things, not in a bad way, but he’s had a few personal things to take care of,” Harsin said earlier this month. “That has impacted some playing time as well.”
Auburn’s list of options at the defensive line now gets that much shorter after the loss of Walker. The Tigers will rely on Derick Hall, Colby Wooden, Marcus Harris, and Jayson Jones to carry the line after the loss of Walker and standout defensive end Eku Leota, who suffered a likely season-ended injury earlier in the season.
“The coaches’ job is to worry about rotation and depth and things like that. Certain guys want to come in, and certain guys don’t want to go out," said Auburn captain Derrick Hall when asked about the potential of depth being an issue for the defensive line. "We have to take that into factor, too, and knowing when a guy’s fatigued and when he’s not. I think that’s the biggest response to that.”
Walker will officially start his search for his new team ahead of a transfer for next season.
"We wish him the best of luck," Hall said. "He's a great guy, and I feel like he'll find a good home wherever he goes."
