Devontez Walker
North Carolina Tar Heels – No. 9
PositionWide receiver
Class
Redshirt
Redshirt
Junior
Personal information
Born: (2001-06-19) June 19, 2001[1]
Charlotte, North Carolina
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career history
College
High schoolWest Charlotte High School
Career highlights and awards

Devontez "Tez" Walker (born June 19, 2001) is an American football wide receiver. He played college football for North Carolina and Kent State.

Early life

Walker grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and attended West Charlotte High School. In Walker's high school career, he brought in 48 receptions for 923 yards and 2 touchdowns. Walker also played on defense racking up 36 tackles, ten pass deflections, and six interceptions.[2] Walker would decide to commit to play college football at North Carolina Central.[3]

College career

North Carolina Central

After enrolling at NCCU, Walker did not play in any games as the 2020 FCS season was canceled due to COVID-19.[4]

Kent State

After not playing at North Carolina Central, Walker decided to transfer to Kent State.[5] He made his collegiate debut in week one of the 2021 season, where he brought in one pass for three yards, as Kent State was destroyed by #6 Texas A&M 41–10.[6] In the team's bowl game, Walker caught one pass for 74 yards and a touchdown, but it would not matter as the Golden Flashes lost 52–38 against Wyoming.[7] Walker finished the 2021 season with five receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.[8]

The 2022 season turned out to be a strong one for Walker. Against reigning national champions Georgia, Walker had one of the best performances of his career, bringing in seven receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown, but Kent State would fall to the Bulldogs 39–22.[9] Walker would have good performances the following two weeks as well, catching six passes for 107 yards against Ohio,[10] and would follow that with 11 receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Miami (OH), 27–24.[11][12] In the team's season finale, Walker scored the game-winning touchdown, catching five passes for 84 yards, as Kent State ended the season with a win against Buffalo.[13][14]

Walker finished his breakout 2022 season with 58 receptions for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also adding 29 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and was named first team All-MAC.[15][16][17]

Following the conclusion of the season and departure of head coach Sean Lewis, Walker decided to enter his name into the transfer portal.[18]

North Carolina

After departing Kent State, Walker returned to his home state, transferring to North Carolina.[19][20] Walker was named to the 2023 Preseason All ACC Team.[21][22] In a controversial and highly criticized decision, the NCAA ruled Walker a two-time transfer, and he was initially denied eligibility for 2023.[23][24] However, after missing four games due to the issue, Walker's eligibility was reinstated for the remainder of the 2023 season.[25]

Following his return to action against Syracuse, Walker proved to be a valuable addition to the Tar Heel offense. In the eight games he played, he caught 41 passes for 699 yards and seven touchdowns, with a breakout performance in his second game back against 2023 Miami Hurricanes football team. In that game, he caught six passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns.[26] Walker declared for the NFL draft after the conclusion of the regular season, opting out of the Duke's Mayo Bowl in the process.[27]

References

  1. ↑ "Devontez Walker, WR North Carolina". dynastyleaguefootball.com. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Devontez Walker's Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Devontez Walker, North Carolina Central, Wide Receiver". 247Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Devontez Walker". Kent State University Athletics. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "2021 College football Transfer Portal". 247Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "O'Neal has 2 interceptions, No. 6 Texas A&M routs Kent State". CBS Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  7. ↑ Thorburn, Ryan. "Levi Williams leads Wyoming to Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory over Kent State". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Dovontez Walker 2021 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "No. 1 Georgia could be falling after 39-22 win over Kent St". CBS Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Kent State tops Ohio in overtime 31-24". CBS Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Miami (OH) blunts late Kent St. rally in 27-24 win". CBS Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "Miami (OH) blunts late Kent St. rally in 27-24 win". AP News. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Kent State rallies to beat Buffalo 30-27 in OT". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "Kent State rallies to beat Buffalo 30-27 in OT". CBS Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "Devontez Walker 2022 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  16. ↑ M. Thomas, George. "Akron football linebacker Bubba Arslanian, Kent State receiver Dante Cephas honored by MAC". Akron Beacon-Journal. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "MAC Announces 2022 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams". Get Some Maction. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  18. ↑ Olson, Max. "Kent State WR Devontez Walker has entered the portal". The Athletic. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  19. ↑ Baucom, Bryant. "Kent State transfer Devontez Walker commits to UNC". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  20. ↑ Callahan, Don. "Transfer WR Devontez Walker Commits to UNC". 247Sports. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "Clemson Leads With Seven on All-ACC Preseason Team; UNC's Maye Projected as POTY". Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "2023 Preseason All-ACC Team: QB Drake Maye leads the first team offense". PFF. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "UNC says the NCAA has denied appeal efforts for Walker's immediate eligibility". AP News. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  24. ↑ "UNC WR Walker denied appeal, ineligible for '23". ESPN.com. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  25. ↑ Cooper, Sam (October 5, 2023). "North Carolina WR Tez Walker ruled eligible after NCAA receives 'new information' from UNC". sports.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  26. ↑ Backus, Will (October 15, 2023). "North Carolina WR Tez Walker goes off against Miami, scores first TD since NCAA eligibility reversal". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  27. ↑ Holloway, Jeremiah (December 8, 2023). "Tez Walker Will Enter 2024 NFL Draft, Opt Out of Mayo Bowl". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
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