Tez Walker eligible for UNC after NCAA says it received ‘new information’: How his case played out

The NCAA granted North Carolina wide receiver Tez Walker immediate eligibility to play this season after receiving “new information” regarding his transfer waiver, it said Thursday, reversing course after previously denying his waiver request in August and a subsequent appeal in September.

The NCAA said the new information had not been previously provided by UNC.

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“We want to assure the Division I membership and everyone watching how the new transfer rules are applied, that this meets the new transfer waiver standards,” NCAA president Charlie Baker and Division I board of directors chair Jere Morehead said in a statement. “UNC’s behavior and decision to wage a public relations campaign is inappropriate and outside the bounds of the process UNC’s own staff supported. Had the UNC staff not behaved in this fashion and submitted this information weeks ago, this entire unfortunate episode could have been avoided.”

New information came to UNC’s attention “in our stated effort to exhaust all avenues,” UNC chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said in a statement. “We immediately gathered it and submitted it for consideration,” he said.

But UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said the governing body’s justification for why it was granting Walker’s waiver now was inaccurate.

“The university submitted all necessary information and documentation as it was made available to us at the time and we still believe Tez met all standards for the waiver in early August,” Cunningham said.

The moment @DevontezWalker found out he’s eligible 💙🐏#CarolinaFootball 🏈 #UNCommon

— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) October 5, 2023

Walker said in a statement that he was “excited and thankful” to be able to play this season.

“This hasn’t been easy, but I’m looking forward to putting this in the past and moving forward. I always knew UNC was a special place, but it’s proved it over and over again throughout the last few months,” he said.

The NCAA’s reversal comes two months after Walker and fellow ACC transfer Darrell Jackson Jr. (Florida State) — had their waivers for immediate eligibility denied in early August.

Walker was denied as a two-time transfer after spending the past two seasons at Kent State. He originally signed with North Carolina Central but left without playing a game for the program after their 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. Jackson, who began his career at Maryland, started all 12 games for Miami in 2022 and was seeking a hardship waiver after returning home to the Tallahassee area to be closer to his ailing mother.

Update on the Tez Walker situation.

— Bubba Cunningham (@BubbaUNC) October 5, 2023

Earlier this year, the NCAA announced it would cut down on the multi-time transfer waivers, which coaches had characterized as “free agency.” The move had unanimous support from all 32 Division I conferences.

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UNC appealed the ruling on Walker’s waiver, and the NCAA conducted another hearing with him in September before denying his exemption request once more. The result enraged fans and members of the football community, with Tar Heels coach Mack Brown publicly criticizing the NCAA.

“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.” Brown said in a statement, which he signed, “Shame on you, NCAA. SHAME ON YOU!”

The NCAA responded by saying the Division I board was “troubled” by the public remarks made by members of the UNC leadership. Additionally, the league said “violent — and possibly criminal — threats” were directed at committee members involved in recent regulatory decisions.

What Walker’s return means for UNC

It’s a huge boost to North Carolina’s offense, obviously. In fact, you could make the argument — and I probably would — that Walker’s (re)addition is necessary to get the Tar Heels’ passing attack where it needs to be. Quarterback Drake Maye is still 11th nationally in passing yards per game (296.75), but he’s thrown just five touchdowns in four games, not to mention four interceptions. He just needs more help. While it’s impressive that UNC started 4-0 without Walker — something the Tar Heels haven’t done in over two decades — adding a true No. 1 receiver should help this offense come closer to its lofty potential. (It doesn’t hurt that Walker’s return will shift fellow receivers J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum down the depth chart and back into roles more befitting their talents.)

The thing to watch now is how involved Walker is this weekend against Syracuse. He’s immediately eligible — not to mention that he never stopped practicing, despite the NCAA’s previous ruling — so there isn’t really a reason why Brown wouldn’t totally cut him loose. Plus, UNC could use him this week; the Orange are only allowing about 200 yards through the air per game, ranking No. 37 nationally. It’s time for Brown, Maye and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay to truly #FreeTez. — Brendan Marks, North Carolina staff writer

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What immediate eligibility means for Walker

According to The Athletic’s NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler, Walker has top-100 talent in this year’s class, and he likely would’ve been selected even if the NCAA didn’t reverse its decision. But now, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound pass catcher can show the country why North Carolina invested in him so heavily. Walker put up 921 yards and 11 touchdowns at Kent State last season, and with Maye — a likely top-10 talent in his own right — throwing him the ball, there’s no reason he can’t post similar (or better) per-game numbers. Walker ranked as Brugler’s No. 14 receiver prospect in the preseason, but if he’s the missing ingredient to UNC’s passing attack, then he absolutely has the potential to play himself into a higher draft spot. — Marks

How Walker’s case played out

The NCAA’s language in its statement about Walker almost made me do a double-take. It reads more like some condescending high school discipline report than something you’d expect to see from college athletics’ primary governing body. Seriously! “Despite the school’s many chances to do so,” is just so petty — and without more clarity on this newfound “information,” it’s difficult to know if the NCAA is being serious here or is just peeved at UNC for publicly calling it out over this entire ordeal. The fact that new NCAA president Charlie Baker personally signed the bottom of the statement leads me to believe it’s the latter. Talk about sour grapes.

A reminder: Walker and UNC have been transparent about his situation — his mental health issues, his grandmother’s health issues, his inability to play at his first school (North Carolina Central) due to the COVID-19 pandemic — from the jump. So, this new information is … what, exactly?

North Carolina and Brown admittedly dragged the NCAA for the decision — not an unfair response, in this reporter’s opinion — and the NCAA even previously released a statement condemning how UNC handled things, saying members had received death threats because they ruled Walker ineligible. Death threats are never acceptable, but it’s clear the NCAA is peeved that Brown and the university would be willing to so publicly denounce their decisions — even if, by virtue of Walker now being deemed eligible, that decision was misguided. It was a mess, basically, but at least the final outcome is one that’s best for the player and the school. That’s ultimately the NCAA’s job, and while it took longer (and more complications) than expected, the situation is finally resolved. — Marks

Required reading

(Photo: Dale Zanine / USA Today)