Tez Walker sends heartfelt message to fans following breakout performance vs Miami

The North Carolina Tar Heels put on a show in front of their home crowd Saturday night as they dismantled the Miami Hurricanes. And in his second game of the season after regaining his eligibility, wide receiver Devontez ‘Tez’ Walker put on an absolute show.

After the game, the Tar Heels star wideout had a special message for all the fans who supported and backed him while he was battling to earn his eligibility and get back on the field.

“I just wanted to tell everybody thank you, and I’m blessed. I’m blessed to have everyone in my corner, and I really appreciate it,” said Walker.

Before he delivered his heartfelt thank you, Walker also talked about the game. The Tar Heels wide receiver shared his thoughts on the performance by star quarterback Drake Maye while issuing a subtle warning to the rest of the college football world.

“I just saw the competitive nature that I always saw in him since the day I stepped on campus; even when I knew him in high school, he was a competitive person. He’s going to come out here and compete every time, and we want a quarterback like that.

“We can accomplish anything. We knew we were going to be a scary team when we went full throttle. And we want to show the world that.”

Mack Brown says he ‘cried’ after getting Walker eligible

North Carolina coach Mack Brown couldn’t help but get emotional when he received word that Tez Walker was granted eligibility. Walker sat out the first four games of action after the NCAA declared him ineligible due to transferring multiple times in his career.

However, after previously denying the Tar Heels’ appeal of that decision, the NCAA reversed course and granted him eligibility on Thursday in light of “new information.” It was a long time coming for the Kent State transfer, who came to Chapel Hill to be closer to his family and grandmother, who is battling illness and had never seen him play in college.

That changed Saturday, as Walker made his debut in the powder blue in front of several members of his family against Syracuse. Walker carried the flag as he led the team out of the tunnel, and Brown described the emotions of the days leading up to that game.

“I sat there and cried,” the coach said. “What a dream for that kid. I get emotional talking about it here. He has 12 people from his family on the field after the game taking pictures. That was a life’s dream for that kid.”

When Brown first received the news, he wasn’t sure exactly how Tez Walker would factor in to North Carolina’s game plan. There were only two days until kickoff, and the receiver had been practicing with the scout team.