The NCAA declared North Carolina wide receiver Devontez “Tez” Walker ineligible for the 2023 season, the school announced on Thursday.
Walker, who played the past two seasons at Kent State, transferred to North Carolina before the season in part to be closer to family, especially his ill grandmother. However, the wide receiver is a second-time transfer, having originally starting his college career at North Carolina Central in 2020. Because of that, he needs a waiver to play as a two-time transfer who has not yet graduated.
After the NCAA announced its decision, Tar Heels coach Mack Brown strongly criticized the organization.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been more disappointed in a person, group of people or institution than I am with the NCAA right now,” Brown said in a statement. “Plain and simple, the NCAA has failed Tez and his family and I’ve lost all faith in its ability to lead and govern our sport.”
A statement from UNC HC Mack Brown on Tez Walker pic.twitter.com/ngm5jKlL20
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 7, 2023
Brown seems to feel that Walker has been singled out, noting that the NCAA has approved “players playing in their eighth year of college, players playing at their fourth school. Indeed, North Carolina State wide receiver Bradley Rozner is embarking on his eighth collegiate season, and Rice quarterback JT Daniels is on his fourth college team, having previously been at USC, Georgia and West Virginia.
“The decision makers at the NCAA and the committee should be ashamed of themselves for doing this to a young man,” Brown added. “Tez should be eligible for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the mental health issues he’s faced during his time in college. And with this decision, the NCAA has placed an unnecessary burden on him.”
North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham also weighed in on behalf of Walker.
“The decision undermines the fair treatment of student-athletes and further erodes the public’s confidence in our national governing body,” Cunningham said in a statement. “Despite the NCAA’s failure, we will continue to support Tez Walker and his family.”
UNC AD Bubba Cunningham also releases a statement. "On eight different occasions, the organization had the opportunity to demonstrate it can make sound and reasonable decisions in the best interest of student-athletes based on individual circumstances. Instead, the NCAA made a… pic.twitter.com/QZwiopv9MG
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 7, 2023
Walker, 22, will be eligible to play for North Carolina starting in 2024.
