Tez Walker: NCAA reverses course, approves eligibility waiver for UNC transfer

The North Carolina football program and receiver Tez Walker received huge news on Thursday as Walker has received a waiver from the NCAA.

The Kent State transfer will be eligible to play moving forward after the NCAA received “new information” about his case.

Walker is expected to immediately be the No. 1 receiver for the Tar Heels. Here is a part of the NCAA’s statement on its decision:

“NCAA staff received new information regarding University of North Carolina student-athlete Tez Walker this week. Staff determined the new information qualifies Walker for a transfer waiver. The information had not been made available by UNC previously, despite the school’s multiple chances to do so.”  

Walker began his college career at NC Central, before transferring to Kent State and eventually North Carolina. During the offseason, UNC requested a waiver to make Tez Walker eligible for the 2023 season. However it was denied.

The NCAA stated that Walker could not play this season because he was transferring for the second time. However, UNC argued that because NC Central’s season was canceled due to COVID-19 the one year he was there, Walker should be viewed as a first-time transfer because he had only previously played in a game at one school.

The Tar Heels administration also pointed out that Walker, who is from Charlotte, moved from Kent State back closer to home to be closer to his sick grandmother.

As a sophomore in 2022, Walker started all 12 games and earned first-team All-MAC honors. He caught 58 passes for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

Walker joins a North Carolina team that is currently 4-0 (1-0) heading into Saturday’s game against Syracuse. He will be catching passes from one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Drake Maye, who is widely expected to be a top 5 pick in next year’s NFL draft.

Tez Walker releases statement after NCAA decision

North Carolina receiver Tez Walker released a statement after the NCAA ruled that he is eligible for the rest of the season:

“I’m so excited and thankful that the NCAA has granted my eligibility 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. I’ve received so much support from the University, the athletics department, my coaches, the staff and my teammates. Most of all, I’ve felt so much love from the fans. Whether it was people trying to pick me up on social media of fans chanting for me at the games, I’ve felt supported and I can’t tell you how much it’s meant to me,” Walker said. “I can’t wait to put on that jersey, run out of the tunnel, and play in Kenan Stadium. I’ve been dreaming of this for a long time and now it will be a reality. See everyone on Saturday.”