Tez Walker will be able to play for North Carolina this season after all.
The former Kent State wide receiver was initially denied a transfer waiver by the NCAA earlier this year, despite having transferred to UNC to be closer to his grandmother.
On Thursday, however, the NCAA announced that thanks to newly obtained information — which wasn’t provided by UNC — Walker has been ruled eligible to play during the current college football season.
“It is unfortunate that UNC failed to provide this important information previously,” NCAA President Charlie Baker and Division I Board of Directors chair Jere Morehead, president of the University of Georgia, said in a combined 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.”
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham responded to the NCAA’s criticism with a statement of his own that was posted on social media and can be found below.
Walker, who was born and raised in Charlotte, began his collegiate football career at North Carolina Central but never played for the school before transferring to Kent State. That transfer used up Walker’s one free transfer under NCAA rules.
When the NCAA initially denied Walker a transfer waiver, the national response was quick, with many denouncing the NCAA’s decision, including UNC head coach Mac Brown.
“When he transferred, we thought it was an absolute no-brainer because he fits every reason that transfers should be eligible,” Brown told reporters in August. “And then we were really, really surprised when it was denied — and disappointed.”
Walker will now be able to suit up for a Tar Heels football team that is 4-0 and one of 22 unbeatens remaining in college football, one of just four in the Atlantic Coast Conference.