UNC Football: A Decision on Walker expected next week
By Jordan Falls
The UNC football program is awaiting a decision on Devontez Walker’s eligibility and it is expected that it will come sometime next week.
It has been almost two weeks since the NCAA ruled UNC football wide receiver Devontez ‘Tez’ Walker ineligible and denied his transfer request from Kent State. Earlier this week, Mack Brown provided an “update” on Walker’s situation that didn’t really include many details other than that the Tar Heels haven’t heard from the NCAA.
The main thing in that update was Brown petitioned for new NCAA President Charlie Baker to overturn the decision on Walker and grant him eligibility. Brad Crawford, a national college football writer with 247Sports, reported on Friday afternoon that a decision on Walker’s situation is expected sometime next week.
Couple sources have indicated UNC expects NCAA to reverse its decision on Tez Walker’s eligibility for the opener against South Carolina. Likely to hear something next week. Would be ‘heartbroken’ if it stands.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) August 18, 2023
It is important to note that not just any decision is expected in this report. Crawford notes that the Tar Heels expect to have the decision reversed and that Walker will be eligible in time for the South Carolina opener on September 2nd.
This is the same messaging that the UNC football coaching staff has been portraying since this became public knowledge. The staff is so confident that the decision will be overturned that Walker has continued to practice with the first team during fall camp.
There are other players impacted by this across the country, each being a unique situation, but important to watch, most notably Florida State defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr. Similar to Walker, Jackson has had Florida U.S. Representatives reach out on his behalf to lobby for his eligibility (North Carolina governor Roy Cooper did the same for Walker).
The difference in the two cases is that Jackson Jr actually played for two schools (Maryland and Miami) prior to transferring to FSU. Walker only played for one school prior to transferring to UNC. Both players transferred on January 9th, prior to the NCAA rule change regarding transfers on January 11th. If Jackson receives his waiver for eligibility prior to Walker, that could indicate to UNC football fans what that may mean for Walker.
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