Tez Walker ruled eligible as months-long standoff between UNC, NCAA ends

Chapel Hill, N.C. — In a reversal of previous rulings, the NCAA has determined that North Carolina wide receiver Tez Walker is now eligible to play this season.

In a statement, the association revealed that staff members received new information this week about Walker. In light of that information, Walker was deemed eligible for a transfer waiver. He can play immediately, ending months of passionate pleas from the program for Walker to join the team in what could be a memorable season.

“We were thrilled to find out earlier today that Tez Walker has been granted his immediate eligibility and will be available for the remainder of the 2023 season," said UNC coach Mack Brown. "We’re so happy for Tez. Everything that’s transpired over the last few months has been with the sole purpose of helping and supporting him, and now he’s going to have a chance to live his dream."

Walker expressed relief at the decision, which had been the subject of debate for several months in Chapel Hill.

“I’m so excited and thankful that the NCAA has granted my eligibility to play this season," Walker said. "This hasn’t been easy, but I’m looking forward to putting this in the past and moving forward."

The NCAA said the information had not been made available by UNC before this week.

"It is unfortunate that UNC failed to provide this important information previously," said NCAA president Charlie Baker and Division I Board of Directors chair Jere Morehead in a statement. "While we must be careful not to compromise a student-athlete's right to privacy when it comes to sensitive issues, we want to assure the Division I membership and everyone watching how the new transfer rules are applied, that this meets the new transfer waiver standards. UNC's behavior and decision to wage a public relations campaign is inappropriate and outside the bounds of the process UNC's own staff supported. Had the UNC staff not behaved in this fashion and submitted this information weeks ago, this entire unfortunate episode could have been avoided."

However, UNC director of athletics Bubba Cunningham fired back at the NCAA's explanation, noting that "the justification provided by the NCAA today is not accurate. The University submitted all necessary information and documentation as it was made available to us at the time and we still believe Tez met all standards for the wavier in early August."

"It is not clear why the NCAA delayed making the correct decision then, but we are pleased to get to the appropriate resolution now," Cunningham said.

UNC is 4-0 and ranked No. 14 in the latest Top 25 AP poll. The Tar Heels host Syracuse at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Brown had previously made pointed comments toward the NCAA, summing up the angry response from the school.

“I’m not going to apologize for standing up and trying to do what’s best for our young person, and making sure that he understands we have exhausted every possibility that we can to help him," Brown said on Sept. 13.

Prior to that, Brown said the NCAA had failed Walker and he wrote: "Shame on you, NCAA. SHAME ON YOU!"

In September, UNC's Board of Trustees called an emergency meeting to talk about legal options surrounding the Walker situation.

"We're keeping all options on the table for how to best support our student-athletes at Carolina, and we felt as if we needed some advice from both our legal counsel here and some outside counsel that we've brought in to help us with these matters," Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said after the meeting.

Walker is considered a two-time transfer by the NCAA. The NCAA pointed to Walker's transfer from North Carolina Central University to Kent State as a key reason why the wavier was denied. Gov. Roy Cooper wrote a letter to Baker, asking the NCAA to reinstate Walker. Attorney General Josh Stein also formally requested the NCAA reconsider the decision. Days after Walker announced his transfer to UNC, the NCAA changed its rules for two-time transfers, adding they would have to demonstrate a personal need for medical or safety reasons to be deemed eligible.

"After he transferred to North Carolina, the NCAA changed its rule saying you can't do this where you transfer twice between schools and you have to sit out, but there are exceptions," Stein told Tim Donnelly on 99.9 The Fan Thursday afternoon. "For one, It was unfair that they applied a rule to a young man after he'd already made his decision. No. 2, they didn't apply their own rule with its exceptions fairly to him. Three, this issue about the legality is we have state and federal laws that prohibit entities like the NCAA from engaging in restraints of trade that are anti-competitive."

"Tez Walker wants to play football and he has a right to play football and if the NCAA is going to keep him from doing that, they have to have a damn good reason and they just don't have one in this case," Stein said.

North Carolina Central University never played a 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Walker was named to the 2023 preseason All-ACC team and was an All-MAC selection in 2022 at Kent State, catching 11 touchdowns for the Golden Flashes.

In June 2018, Walker initially committed to East Carolina. However, he signed with East Tennessee State University in February 2019. After sustaining a knee injury, East Tennessee State allowed him to "grayshirt," which means he wouldn't join the program until spring practice in 2020. However, Walker committed to North Carolina Central University in January 2020.

Walker played at West Charlotte High School. Recently, Walker said he wanted to play at UNC to be closer to his ailing grandmother, who had never seen him play in person.