Tez Walker enrolled at North Carolina in January as a transfer from Kent State. In the days before the start of UNC's Week 1 contest against South Carolina, he was still waiting to hear if he was eligible to play for the Tar Heels in 2023.
Due to NCAA policies for players who transfer multiple times, Walker had to submit a waiver asking the NCAA to allow him to play right away after his move to North Carolina, which was a decision made to get closer to his family and his ailing grandmother. It was viewed as a largely procedural measure in what many felt certain to be a quick approval.
Instead, Walker was denied in his request to play immediately, prompting UNC to file an appeal.
"When he transferred we thought it was an absolute no-brainer," North Carolina coach Mack Brown said at the time, according to 247Sports, "because he fits every reason that transfers should be eligible. And then we were really, really surprised when it was denied — and disappointed."
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Heading into North Carolina's Week 1 rivalry matchup with South Carolina, Walker's eligibility was still up in the air. Will he be able to play? Here's what you need to know.
Tez Walker transfer eligibility
UNC and South Carolina are set to face at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday. As of Friday, Walker was still waiting to hear if the NCAA would allow him to play in the 2023 season.
According to ESPN, UNC's initial appeal for Walker was denied by the NCAA, but the school submitted a second that will be heard the week after North Carolina vs. South Carolina. That will mean Walker will be unable to play for North Carolina on Saturday.
On Friday, Walker posted a public letter to X (formerly Twitter) asking NCAA president Charlie Baker to allow him to play in 2023.
— TEZ!!! (@DevontezWalker) September 1, 2023
Coach Mack Brown called out the NCAA in a public statement for its refusal to grant his appeal and allow him to play on Saturday.
A statement from Coach Brown on the Tez Walker situation pic.twitter.com/jXTB0Yjqwl
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 1, 2023
Walker has had an unconventional path to UNC. He originally was committed to East Tennessee State in 2019, but after an injury, he decommitted and waited until 2020 to enroll, joining North Carolina Central.
When the Eagles canceled their 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Walker transferred to Kent State and officially began his career with the Golden Flashes. He logged a pair of seasons at Kent State before transferring to North Carolina in early 2023. He did not play a snap of football for North Carolina Central.
The problem for Walker is that his move to Chapel Hill was his second transfer, and the NCAA mandates players transferring multiple times to submit a waiver to be approved.
Walker's approval figured to be an easy decision for the NCAA. He is a native of Charlotte, and reportedly wanted to be closer to his grandmother, Loretta Black, who told WBTV that she cannot travel due to several surgeries.
Black told the network it has been a dream of hers to get to see her grandson play in person. North Carolina's Week 1 contest against South Carolina is set to be played in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
"Not only are you denying him from playing, you're denying me from watching him play," Black told WBTV. "I don't appreciate it, and it hurts."
Tez Walker stats
Should he eventually be granted eligibility, Walker is expected to take up a major role in North Carolina's offense in 2023, particularly after the departure of top wide receiver Josh Downs. Walker was a first-team All-MAC player for Kent State in 2022 after a breakout season saw him rack up nearly 1,000 receiving yards and exceed double-digit touchdown receptions.
| Year | Receptions | Yards | Receiving TDs |
| 2021 | 5 | 124 | 1 |
| 2022 | 58 | 921 | 11 |
| Career | 63 | 1,045 | 12 |
