North Carolina honors Tez Walker with helmet stickers after NCAA denied his waiver to play

After his waiver to play this season was denied, North Carolina players will honor wide receiver Tez Walker with a sticker on their helmet.

Walker’s saga is well-known by UNC fans. He transferred to Kent State a couple years ago, then tried to transfer again after last season and landed at North Carolina. However, since this is his second transfer and he has not yet graduated from school, the NCAA requires him to sit out a year.

He appealed that decision, but this week, the NCAA denied that appeal, setting in stone the fact that he will not play this season. So, in their first game since that ruling came down, the Tar Heels will honor Walker and his story by wearing a small sticker with his number, 9, on the back of each player’s helmet.

Take a look:

9️⃣💙#CarolinaFootball 🏈 #UNCommon pic.twitter.com/z1SIxT3FyI

— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 9, 2023

NCAA explains decision to deny waiver

After another appeal, the NCAA made the decision on Thursday to not give Tez Walker eligibility. Head coach Mack Brown thought he had added a star wide receiver via the transfer portal. Unfortunately, the NCAA had different ideas.

Following the decision, the NCAA released a statement on the decision to rule Walker ineligible. They are not allowed to comment on specific cases but did put an emphasis on there being unanimous support for the current rule.

Here is the full NCAA statement via ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

“The membership committee who reviews appeals understands every student-athlete weante very opportunity to compete with their teammates and the committee considers all information provided on behalf of the student-athlete and evaluates each request consistent with the rules set by members,” the statement began.

“In January, at the direction of the Division I Board of Directors, the Division I Council — which includes voting members from all 32 conferences and voting student-athletes — unanimously supported the current guidelines for student-athletes who are transferring for a second time as undergraduate students and seeking eligibility for the 2023-2024 academic year.

“The NCAA takes student-athlete mental health and well-being seriously, as demonstrated by the DI Board vote in April that will now require all member schools to provide for the first time increased mental health resources and medical support for college athletes, among other benefits. For student-athletes who transfer for a second time and do not receive a waiver to compete immediately, those resources and support systems are still available as they acclimate to their news schools prior to competing the next year.”