NCAA releases stement after denying UNC WR Tez Walker eligibility

Tez Walker will not be able to play football for North Carolina this season. After another appeal, the NCAA made the decision on Thursday to not give 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.”

More on Tez Walker, path to North Carolina

Walker began his college football career at North Carolina Central, committing there coming out of Charlotte (NC) West Charlotte. However, the 2020 season did not occur due to COVID-19, forcing Walker to transfer to Kent State. He played for the Golden Flashes for two years but entered the transfer portal again to play at the Power Five level.

Ultimately choosing North Carolina, the NCAA has denied him eligibility due to it being Walker’s second transfer as an undergraduate student. Nobody in Chapel Hill is happy with the decision, especially athletic director Bubba Cunnigham.

Walker will now have to wait another season before finishing out his college football career. North Carolina will have a spot for the wide receiver come the 2024 season.