UNC Football: Tez Walker ruled ineligible for 2023 season

The UNC Football program received unfortunate news on Thursday afternoon regarding Devontez ‘Tez’ Walker’s eligibility.

It has been an emotional few weeks for everyone inside the UNC football program regarding Devontez ‘Tez’ Walker’s eligibility and what he has experienced with the NCAA. Let’s recap:

• Tez Walker transfers to Carolina on January 9th
• The NCAA changed their transfer rules to become stricter regarding two-time transfers on January 11
• Tez Walker was ruled ineligible on August 8th, along with several other transfers throughout the country, and the North Carolina athletic department took his story public across several social media channels.
• North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper wrote a letter to the NCAA asking for Tez to be ruled eligible on August 9
• Head coach of UNC football, Mack Brown, released a public statement on August 15 providing an update on the appeal for Walker’s eligibility and pleading with NCAA President Charlie Baker to “do the right thing.”
• On August 18th, sources reported that a decision on Walker’s eligibility would be coming the following week, leading us to…
• Walker being deemed ineligible for the Tar Heels season opener against South Carolina.

After Walker was forced to sit out the season opener, he met with the NCAA early on Thursday to discuss their ruling. Unfortunately, the committee did not rule in his favor.

;

This is difficult news for Walker and the UNC football program, as the star wide receiver will not be allowed to dress for the Tar Heel offense in 2023, and Drake Maye will have one less weapon at wide receiver. There is still plenty of talent in the wide receiver room, but everyone will need to step up to replace the talent that Walker was expected to bring to the offense this year.

He will have two years of eligibility remaining. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to use that eligibility until 2024 and 2025.

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on X (formerly Twitter) and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC football news, updates, and recruiting.