Tag: Devontez Walker

Three Tar Heels among 247Sports’ top 20 football players heading into 2023 season

UNC football players Drake Maye, Cedric Gray and Devontez Walker were all ranked on 247Sports’ Top 20 list ahead of the 2023 campaign.

The University of North Carolina’s football team is expected to take a major leap this year – and it has all the signs pointing towards that.

The Heels return Drake Maye, arguably the best quarterback in the country, their top two tight ends in Bryson Nesbit and Kamari Morales, plus a transfer who will certainly boost the wide receiving corps. Linebacker Cedric Gray, who anchored one of 2022’s most underperforming units in all of college football, is gaining some NFL Draft hype ahead of his senior campaign. After a year with uncertainty at running back, Carolina brings back its three leading rushers from a season ago.

Just over a month removed from its Sept. 2 season-opener against neighboring rival University of South Carolina, UNC has three players amongst 247Sports’ top 20 ACC players.

Gray slots in at 16. The Charlotte native led Power Five schools and was third in the entire FBS with 144 tackles (82 solo), including a 14-tackle, 1-interception performance in the record-setting, back-and-forth victory over App State.

Here’s what 247Sports’ Chris Hummer had to say about Gray:

“Gray does everything well. He’s a sure tackler, an above-average in coverage for an off-ball linebacker and obviously does well in the box. The former four-star recruit is one of the most balanced and effective defenders in the country.”

Kent State transfer Devontez Walker landed at 11 on Hummer’s list. He’s a guy Carolina fans haven’t seen play in baby blue yet, but has all the signs of being the perfect Josh Downs replacement. Walker nearly eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark last season for the Golden Flashes, catching 58 passes for 921 yards and 11 touchdown.

Here’s what Hummer had to say about Walker:

“Walker is a proven deep threat (29th nationally in catches of 30-plus yards), but also showed a lot of shiftiness in the open field with 12 forced missed tackles on the year. Now that he’s set to play with Drake Maye in a pass-heavy offense, his numbers could explode.”

Maye is, without question, the top player on Hummer’s list. The Huntersville (N.C.) native finished fourth in the FBS with 4,321 passing yards last year, led the Tar Heels with 937 rushing yards and played his way into Heisman Trophy contention. Carolina bolted out to a 9-1 start under Maye before losing its final four games, which included its first ACC championship game appearance since 2015. Maye showed he’s a player with poise in the pocket, who can scramble away from pressure and throw on the run, or evade defenders and break away for a long run.

Here’s what Hummer had to say about Maye:

“It’ll be interesting to see how Maye performs in a more pro-style system in 2023 with Chip Lindsey in as offensive coordinator. Either way, Maye seems like a borderline lock to be drafted in the top 10 next spring.”

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UNC football lands 12 players on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-ACC List

The UNC football program has 12 players make Phil Steele’s Preseason All-ACC team in his magazine.

Mack Brown’s North Carolina football program is one of the more interesting teams going into this Atlantic Coast Conference season.

After starting 9-1 a year ago, they finished 9-5 and lost four-straight games including the ACC Championship and the Holiday Bowl. But with Drake Maye back for another year, expectations are high in Chapel Hill.

As we sit here in June, Phil Steele has finished putting together his annual preview for the upcoming season. The guide is one of the best that is available and breaks down each team across the country.

For North Carolina, they landed 12 players on Steele’s Preseason All-ACC team, headlined by Maye, linebacker Cedric Gray and punter Ben Kiernan as first-team selections.

Joining them on the list are :

  • LB [autotag]Power Echols[/autotag] (2nd team)
  • LS [autotag]Drew Little[/autotag] (2nd team)
  • WR [autotag]Nate McCollum[/autotag] (3rd team)
  • OL[autotag] Corey Gaynor[/autotag] (3rd team)
  • RB [autotag]Omarion Hampton[/autotag] (4th team)
  • WR [autotag]Devontez Walker[/autotag] (4th team)
  • DL [autotag]Myles Murphy[/autotag] (4th team)
  • DB [autotag]Alijah Huzzie[/autotag] (4th team)
  • K [autotag]Ryan Coe[/autotag] (4th team)

North Carolina had just seven players make the preseason team last year in Steele’s book.

The talent is certainly there for North Carolina to make a run but they have to find consistency. They will be tested early on with a season opener against South Carolina and then non-conference games against Minnesota and Appalachian State before opening up conference play.

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Where UNC WR Devontez Walker ranks in ACC

UNC football wide receiver Devontez Walker was named a player at his position in the ACC.

North Carolina’s offense will still be led by quarterback Drake Maye in 2023 but will look a little different. The team lost receivers Josh Downs and Antoine Green plus offensive coordinator Phil Longo who went to Wisconsin.

But the Tar Heels also added some talented receivers, headlined by former Kent State standout Devontez Walker. The receiver committed to North Carolina out of the transfer total and should be Maye’s go-to target right away.

As we get set for the upcoming season, College Sports Wire ranked the top wide receivers in the Atlantic Coast Conference. And Walker checked in at No. 4:

Why The Ranking:

There is probably no one happier that Tez joined the team over the offseason than Drake Maye. After losing top wideout Josh Downs to the NFL, the Tar Heels gets a long receiver, who can be a big-play threat down the field. With one of the best QBs in the country under center, Walker should get ample opportunity to show what he is made of. He caught 7 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs last season.

The only players ahead of Walker on the list were Florida State’s Johnny Wilson, Virginia Tech’s Ali Jennings and Louisville’s Jamar Thrash.

Walker is coming off a big season in 2022, catching 58 passes for 921 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

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No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kent State: Preview, injury reports and broadcast info for Saturday

The No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners host the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

The No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners host the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

Oklahoma is coming off of a 45-13 win over UTEP in a game where the Sooners mostly dominated save for a few minutes in the second quarter. The Sooners played a balanced game offensively, throwing for 233 yards and rushing for 259 yards.

Kent State is playing its second road game of the season after opening with a 45-20 loss on the road vs. Washington. The Golden Flashes gave up a ton of yardage threw the air as Huskies quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns.

Check out our staff predictions for Saturday’s matchup.

Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:

Kent State at No. 7 Oklahoma injury report:

Oklahoma

T.D. Roof, LB: Out for season

Daniel Parker Jr., TE: Probable (Missed UTEP game with Illness)

Players to watch:

Oklahoma

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], QB: 65.2%, 233 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown.

[autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], RB: 16 carries, 102 yards. 2 receptions, 33 yards.

[autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag], RB: 7 carries, 57 yards, 2 touchdowns.

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], WR: 3 receptions for 81 yards.

[autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], TE: 3 receptions for 40 yards, 2 touchdowns.

[autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag], DE: 3 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks.

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], LB: 9 total tackles (6 solo).

[autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], LB: 7 total tackles (3 solo), 1 tackles for loss, 1 sack.

[autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], S: 9 total tackles (7 solo).

Kent State

[autotag]Colin Schlee[/autotag], QB: 50%, 178 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions.

[autotag]Marquez Cooper[/autotag], RB: 11 carries, 36 yards, 1 touchdown.

[autotag]Dante Cephas[/autotag], WR: 6 receptions, 105 yards.

[autotag]Devontez Walker[/autotag], WR: 4 receptions, 56 yards, 1 touchdown.

[autotag]Jojo Evans[/autotag], S: 7 tackles (all solo).

[autotag]Khalib Johns[/autotag], LB: 4 tackles (3 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack.

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