It was a normal fall, Saturday night by all things considered. An exciting week of College Football was being capped off by the game of the week in Charlotte, North Carolina. Two teams with high hopes for the 2023 season, North Carolina and South Carolina, squared off at a neutral site where ESPN chose to host College Gameday for the first time this season.
And then a funny thing happened…
Background on Devontez Walker
For those who do not know, Devontez Walker is a transfer wide receiver from Kent State. Born in North Carolina, Walker’s dream was to stay in-state and play the sport he loves. Walker started at North Carolina Central in 2020 but did not play a game due to COVID before transferring to Kent State.
At Kent State, Walker broke out. He ended the 2022 season (his second) with 58 catches for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns. North Carolina, needing an endzone threat to pair with Heisman candidate Drake Maye, was quick to reach out to him.
Shortly after Walker decided to transfer, the NCAA changed their rules regarding transfers moving schools for the second time disallowing them from immediately suiting up for their new school. Walker, who played zero games for North Carolina Central, and also made the decision to transfer before the new rule was in place, assumed he would be granted a waiver.
Enter Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy
Unfortunately, the NCAA did not acquiesce and refused to grant Walker a waiver for the Tar Heels’ opening game against South Carolina. Missing out on a game is bad enough, but this game was played in Charlotte, North Carolina which just so happens to be near where Walker grew up. The NCAA’s decision blocked him from playing in front of family and friends who had already purchased tickets to see him.
During the game, one that North Carolina controlled comfortably from start to finish, Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy, two of ESPN’s primary announcers calling the game on national television that night, ripped into the NCAA for their decision and the impact it’s had on Walker.
“I really hope the committee this upcoming Thursday does the right thing,” McElroy said. “It’s absolutely ridiculous. If nothing else, he didn’t play at his original school. The season was canceled. Football got taken from him. He transferred, tried to find an opportunity on the field during the 2020 season, and did so at Kent State…who is fully supportive of Tez Walker playing. It’s absolutely ridiculous that the NCAA is digging in, they need to do the right thing.”
Unfortunately, as we sit at 7:55 PM on Tuesday, September 5th, it appears the NCAA is no closer to making a decision than they were last week. Walker’s eligibility status remains up in the air and could very well cost him North Carolina’s next game when the Tar Heels host Appalachian State in their home opener.
The NCAA’s process here is completely unreasonable. Not only did Walker make his decision before the new rules were put into place (what kind of precedent is this setting?), but, as McElroy stated, he didn’t play a game for North Carolina Central. And to top it all off, Kent State upended its coaching staff at the end of the 2022 season. Why are coaches allowed to bounce from school to school at their disposal while players continue to be held hostage?
It’s an absurd ruling, one the NCAA needs to rectify immediately.
