‘Shame on you, NCAA’: UNC football’s Tez Walker remains ineligible, Mack Brown says

North Carolina football wide receiver Tez Walker won’t be able to play for the Tar Heels in the 2023 season, UNC coach Mack Brown announced Thursday afternoon. 

Brown released a statement Thursday after the NCAA committee reviewing Walker’s case voted to deny the reinstatement of the wide receiver's eligibility. 

“We’re absolutely crushed to learn that Tez Walker’s eligibility has been denied for this season and he won’t be able to play. I don’t know that I’ve ever been more disappointed in a person, a group of people, or an institution than I am with the NCAA right now. It’s clear that the NCAA is about process and it couldn’t care less about the young people it’s supposed to be supporting. Plain and simple, the NCAA has failed Tez and his family and I’ve lost all faith in its ability to lead and govern our sport,” Brown said in a school-issued statement. 

“They’ve messed so many things up as it relates to college football, and now their failures have negatively impacted the life of one of our own. Just imagine what it is like for Tez to be so excited to come home and have a chance to fulfill his childhood dream of playing for North Carolina in front of all of his family and friends, only to have it taken away despite doing nothing wrong. I can’t begin to understand how this has happened. The decision makers at the NCAA and on the committee should be ashamed of themselves for doing this to a young man. 

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“As has been clearly documented, Tez should be eligible for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the mental health issues he’s faced during his time in college. And with this decision, the NCAA has placed an unnecessary burden on him. He’s had a rough go of it and this will surely only make it worse. How dare they ever speak about mental health and student-athlete welfare again. We’ve got complete rosters overhauled through the transfer portal, players playing in their 8th year of college, players playing at their fourth school, and the list goes on. Yet, Tez Walker, who has only played football at one school, isn’t eligible. It makes no sense and it never will.

“Moving forward, our Carolina family is strong and we need to wrap our arms around Tez, lift him up, and make sure we continue to do all we can to support him. He’s continued to work, on the field and off, and remained an amazing member of our program throughout this ordeal. I know that will continue to happen because that’s the kind of person he is. Despite this setback, Tez’s future remains bright and we’ll continue to do everything we can to help him fulfill all of his dreams.

 “Shame on you, NCAA. SHAME ON YOU!”

What's the deal with UNC football WR Tez Walker's NCAA situation?

In August, the NCAA denied Walker’s waiver to play immediately as a two-time transfer. The preseason All-ACC selection was expected to be one of quarterback Drake Maye’s top playmakers.

Ahead of UNC’s season opener against South Carolina, Walker posted a letter on social media that he addressed to NCAA president Charlie Baker. 

“Please, review my situation so I can achieve my dream as a student-athlete,” Walker wrote. 

“Isn’t that what the NCAA is supposed to do? Help student athletes achieve their dreams? … Mr. Baker, we’ve never met. Please help me. Thank you.” 

Walker enrolled at UNC on Jan. 9, according to UNC, and the NCAA changed its two-time transfer rules on Jan. 11. The NCAA Council shifted the rules with hopes of limiting mass waivers for two-time transfers. 

First-time transfers can play immediately, but two-time transfers have to meet certain criteria. Physical injuries or mental health conditions that necessitate a transfer are among the reasons the NCAA can choose to approve an eligibility waiver.

Walker cited his grandmother’s health as one of his main reasons for making the move to join the Tar Heels. 

Following his high school career at West Charlotte, Walker committed to East Tennessee State but tore his ACL and never played for the Buccaneers. He then made the move to North Carolina Central in 2020, but the Eagles canceled their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In two seasons at Kent State, Walker became one of the top receivers in the MAC. He had 58 catches for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Golden Flashes last season.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.