Durant returns to Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina hopes Darian Durant isn&#39;t as indecisive under center as he was about his college future this offseason. <br> <br> The Tar Heels announced Monday that Durant, who established school freshman passing records for touchdowns (17), completions (142), yards (1,843) and total offense (1,971 yards), would return to the team five weeks after saying he would transfer. <br> <br> ``I made a mistake,&#39;&#39; Durant said. ``I haven&#39;t felt comfortable since I made the announcement. I&#39;ve learned a lot about myself in the last month and I&#39;m looking forward to joining the players and coaches back on the field. <br> <br> ``I&#39;m thankful for the opportunity to come back to the team. I realize how much the coaches and players care about me and I want to earn their respect. I look forward to competing for playing time in the fall and demonstrating to the team that they can count on me.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Coach John Bunting said Durant would begin spring practice Monday and will compete with Florida transfer C.J. Stephens and freshman Matt Baker for the starting QB job this fall. <br> <br> ``I think Darian realized in the last month how much the University of North Carolina, his teammates and Carolina football meant to him,&#39;&#39; Bunting said. ``We are like a family here and he missed being a part of it.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> On Feb. 25, Durant, of Florence, S.C., said he was going to transfer because of personal reasons. However, Durant remained in school and was taking classes this spring. <br> <br> Durant took snaps in tandem with senior Ronald Curry last season and helped North Carolina to an 8-5 record, which included a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn. <br> <br> Durant was second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 12th in the nation in passing efficiency and finished second in the voting for ACC rookie of the year. <br> <br> With Curry graduating, Durant was expected to be the starter heading into spring practice, and Bunting did not sign a quarterback in his latest recruiting class. That appeared to be a mistake when Durant said he was leaving the program. <br> <br> But, for now, it appears to have all worked out for Bunting, Durant and the North Carolina football program. <br> <br> ``I said in February I would leave the door cracked open for him,&#39;&#39; Bunting said. ``I did that because of the respect his teammates have for him and the kind of person I believe he is. I also felt in talking to Darian that he may have a change of heart.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Durant&#39;s return could give the Tar Heels one of the better offenses in the ACC, considering eight starters return.

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