After waiting four games into the 2023 season and weeks for the formal approval from the NCAA of his transfer to UNC, wide receiver Devontez ‘Tez’ Walker and the Tar Heels finally got the message they had been waiting for.

The NCAA announced on Thursday that Walker is now officially eligible to play for the Carolina football program, effective immediately. It comes after the college sports governing body had spent months maintaining that Walker was in violation of a two-time transfer ruled passed by the NCAA in January — two days after the North Carolina native had enrolled at UNC. Walker, who played at Kent State two seasons after arriving from N.C. Central, maintained he should be allowed to play since N.C. Central did not field a team his freshman season.

Once the NCAA shared its statement and notified Carolina on Thursday afternoon, social media erupted with UNC players and fans sharing their excitement.

The UNC football team shared several posts celebrating Walker’s ability to finally play, including the moment head coach Mack Brown and wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway told the junior the news.

Walker’s teammates hopped onto social media to share encouragement and excitement about seeing the wide receiver on the field, including quarterback Drake Maye, cornerback Alijuh Huzzie, and edge rusher Kaimon Rucker. Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik also posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) about Walker’s demeanor with the team despite not being allowed to play.

 

Two prominent North Carolina elected officials also weighed in on Thursday: Governor Roy Cooper and Attorney Josh Stein. Both are Carolina alumni and each wrote to the NCAA encouraging them to approve Walker’s waiver of eligibility for the season.

 

And, of course, plenty of former Tar Heel athletes and Carolina fans shared their excitement of the news too. They — as well as national college football media members — shared their thoughts both on Walker becoming available for UNC and how the NCAA handled his eligibility case.

 

 

 

In his statement shared after the NCAA’s decision was released, Walker indicated he plans to play on Saturday during UNC’s home game vs. Syracuse. The Tar Heels, who went 4-0 to begin the season without the star receiver, and Orange will kick off at 3:30 p.m.

 

Featured photo via Carolina Athletics Communications.

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