UNC's Walker ruled ineligible for 2023 season

North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker has been ruled ineligible to play this season, head coach Mack Brown announced.

Brown strongly criticized the NCAA's decision Thursday.

"We're absolutely crushed to learn that Tez Walker's eligibility has been denied for this season and he won't be able to play," Brown said in a statement. "I don't know that I've ever been more disappointed in a person, a group of people, or an institution than I am with the NCAA right now. It's clear that the NCAA is about process, and it couldn't care less about the young people it's supposed to be supporting. 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.

"They've messed so many things up as it relates to college football, and now their failures have negatively impacted the life of one of our own. Just imagine what it is like for Tez to be so excited to come home and have a chance to fulfill his childhood dream of playing for North Carolina in front of all of his family and friends, only to have it taken away despite doing nothing wrong. I can't begin to understand how this has happened.

"The decision-makers at the NCAA and on the committee should be ashamed of themselves for doing this to a young man."

Walker began his college career at NC Central in 2020 but didn't play for the Eagles due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then joined Kent State, where he played two seasons before transferring to North Carolina this past offseason.

Despite not playing at NC Central, Walker is being subjected to the NCAA's current two-time transfer rule. The league grants every player a one-time transfer without the loss of eligibility, but a second transfer requires a player to sit out a year barring a waiver.

"As has been clearly documented, 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," Brown added. "And with this decision, the NCAA has placed an unnecessary burden on him. He's had a rough go of it, and this will surely only make it worse.

"We've got complete rosters overhauled through the transfer portal, players playing in their eighth year of college, players playing at their fourth school, and the list goes on. Yet, Tez Walker, who has only played football at one school, isn't eligible. It makes no sense, and it never will."

Walker was originally ruled ineligible in August and appealed the ruling. He missed North Carolina's season-opening victory over South Carolina.

Walker put on a show in 2022 at Kent State, catching 58 passes for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns.