Tag: Devontez Walker

UNC Football: Offensive keys to the game against Miami

The Tar Heels just 40-pieced Syracuse last weekend in Kenan Stadium. What will their offense do for an encore against the Miami Hurricanes?

Another week, another dominating victory for the UNC football team.

A month after they were being questioned, for a closer-than-expected victory against a young App State squad, the Tar Heels are 5-0 and one of the ACC’s three remaining undefeated squads. They currently sit at 12th in the latest AP Poll, but if they keep dominating opponents, they’ll be a Top 5 team by years’ end.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, Carolina trounced Syracuse by a 40-7 mark. Drake Maye finished six yards off his collegiate career-high in passing yards and added a rushing touchdown, wide receivers Kobe Paysour and Georgia Tech transfer Nate McCollum each hit the century mark in receiving yards, plus the defense held an opponent to single-digits for the first time in nearly two calendar years.

UNC has an even tougher test this coming Saturday in Miami (FL), who comes to Kenan Stadium for a primetime matchup at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes were the victim of an unfortunate playcalling blunder last weekend, when their decision to run the ball – instead of kneel – led to a fumble and Georgia Tech’s eventual game-winning touchdown.

Miami’s defense could pose a challenge for UNC’s red-hot offensive unit, with the Hurricanes holding opponents to single-digits in three of their first five games.

Let’s take a deeper dive into what Carolina needs to do offensively for a statement victory:

UNC Football vs. Syracuse: How to watch Saturday afternoon clash

UNC hosts Syracuse on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in a matchup of 4-win ACC teams. Check out how you can tune into the game.

The UNC football team should be well-rested, as they come out of the bye week to face a fellow 4-win ACC school in Syracuse.

Carolina turned heads and rose up the rankings in the first portion of its schedule – beating Power 5 opponents in South Carolina, Minnesota and Pitt, while also squeaking by a Power 5 killer in App State. Drake Maye is playing more like his Heisman Trophy-contending self as the season goes on, Omarion Hampton has developed into one of the country’s best young running backs, while seemingly a new receiver leads the team every week.

Did we mention Devontez Walker is now also eligible, giving Maye yet another weapon?

Syracuse started 4-0 before losing to Clemson last weekend. Dual-threat quarterback Garrett Shrader leads the Orange with 1,148 passing yards and eight touchdowns, while he is tied for the team lead with six rushing touchdowns.

UNC is favored by eight points in Saturday’s home matchup, but that doesn’t guarantee it a win. We’ve watched the Heels lose games they’re favored in plenty of times before – take the opener against Virginia Tech two years ago?

Let’s take a look at what you need to know for the UNC-Syracuse clash.

UNC-SYRACUSE TV, RADIO, AND STREAMING INFORMATION

WHAT: North Carolina (4-0, 1-0 ACC) vs. Syracuse (4-1, 0-1 ACC)

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

TV: ESPN (Watch and stream the game live on WatchESPN)

ANNOUNCERS: Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (color analyst) and Molly McGrath (reporter).

RADIO: Tar Heel Sports Network. Jones Angell, play-by-play;
Brian Simmons, analyst; Lee Pace, sideline

SATELLITE RADIO: SiriusXM (99 or 108)

WEBSITE: WatchESPN

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Devontez Walker eligibility the birthday gift Mom never knew she needed

UNC wide receiver Devontez Walker was finally ruled eligible by the NCAA. Walker’s mom, Ivey Cody, is also celebrating her birthday today.

All is well in the college football world at UNC.

After months of fighting Devontez Walker’s eligibility case, only to have it denied, the Tar Heels received a clear-cut sign.

On Thursday, Oct. 5, the NCAA ruled Walker eligible for the season’s remainder.

Everyone in Chapel Hill – players, coaches and fans alike – were elated to hear the news. Walker was trending on social media, with Tar Heel Nation voicing their support and relief of the NCAA’s decision.

There was no one more excited to hear the news than Walker himself, as the Kent State transfer had been staying in shape all season, with hopes the NCAA would make the right call soon.

The person most shocked to hear about Walker’s eligibility, however, was his mom. Walker called his grandma shortly after the ruling – grandma then told mom.

To make matters sweeter, Walker’s mom, Ivey Cody, is celebrating her birthday today.

Mom and grandma finally get the long-awaited chance to see their favorite Tar Heel suit up. They originally planned to see Walker, the North Carolina native who starred at West Charlotte High School, in the Duke’s Mayo Classic against South Carolina in Week 1.

Will Walker step into a starting role right away? His production would certainly be welcomed, as he caught 58 passes for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns at Kent State last year, but J.J. Jones, Kobe Paysour and Nate McCollum have been shining in increased roles.

Walker and his UNC teammates welcome Syracuse to Kenan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. He’ll try to help Carolina extend its best start since 1997, while the Orange are hoping to knock off the undefeated Tar Heels.

In the meantime, I’m sure that Ivey Cody is having an amazing birthday. Her baby boy gets to finally play the game he’s worked so hard for all his life.

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Social media reactions to Tez Walker’s immediate eligibility

Social media reacts to NCAA’s decision to grant Devontez Walker immediate eligibility to join the UNC football program.

Finally, we have all been waiting to hear the news: UNC transfer wide receiver Devontez Walker is immediately eligible to lace up for the Tar Heels.

The national fight to “Free Tez,” a chant echoed in stadiums, is finally over. The UNC football program announced that the NCAA has ruled to allow Walker immediate eligibility, sparking virtual high-fives across social media.

Mack Brown stated following the announcement, thanking the NCAA for re-examining Walker’s case.

“We are so happy for Tez,” Brown stated. “Everything that’s transpired over the last few months has been with the sole purpose of helping and supporting him, and now he is going to have a chance to live his dream.”

Walker also released a statement following the news, showing gratitude for the verdict change.

“I always knew UNC was a special place, but it has proved it over and over again throughout the last few months,” Walker stated. “I’ve received so much support from the University, the athletics department, my coaches, the staff, and my teammates. Most of all, I’ve felt so much love from the fans.”

It is safe to say it is a GDTBAH. Let us look at how social media reacted to the breaking news.

Social Media reactions to the NCAA Statement’s on Tez Walker

Social media reacts to NCAA statements on Tez Walker’s verdict, including threats they received and dissatisfaction with UNC’s leadership.

The [autotag]Tez Walker[/autotag] saga continues after the NCAA released a statement explaining their stance on making the transfer WR Ineligible to play for the 2023-2024 football season.

The statement was released Tuesday afternoon in a press release by the NCAA and soon after was plastered throughout social media. The NCAA also stated that they were receiving threats based on their verdict.

“The NCAA is aware of violent – and possibly criminal – threats recently directed at committee members involved in regulatory decisions. The national office is coordinating with law enforcement and will continue to do whatever possible to support the volunteers who serve on these committees.”

The statement then attempts to clarify their ruling, breaking down the transfer portal numbers, with claims that only 3% of the 21,685 student-athletes in the portal would require a waiver due to being a multiple transfer. The statement released by the NCAA ended with the board expressing their concerns with how UNC leadership handled the decision.

“The DI Board is troubled by the public remarks made last week by some of the University of North Carolina leadership. Those comments directly contradict what we and our fellow Division I members and coaches called for vociferously – including UNC’s own football coach.”

It is safe to say this did not boil over on social media slamming the NCAA over their statement, igniting the fire that continues to flame.

Let us look at how social media reacted to the NCAA statement.

UNC Football names captains for home opener

Corey Gaynor, Kaimon Rucker, Ben Kiernan and suspended wide receiver Devontez Walker are game captains for UNC’s home football opener.

There’s no feeling for a college football team that compares to its home opener.

The players spend all offseason thinking about this moment – running out of the tunnel to thousands of cheering fans. Teams build the anticipation by swaying back and forth in their tunnels, the PA announcer channels the hype music and – BOOM – here comes your favorite team.

We’re already three weeks into the college football season and it’s now UNC’s turn to host its home opener.

The Tar Heels take on Appalachian State at 5:15 p.m. today, within the friendly confines of Kenan Stadium. When these two in-state rivals matched up last year in Boone, a combined 124 points were scored, most in an FBS matchup since UCLA’s 67-63 triumph at Washington State in 2019.

Adding onto the excitement of their home opener, the Heels named their game captains: center Corey Gaynor, jack linebacker Kaimon Rucker, punter Ben Keirnan and an honorary captain, the young man who has been wronged countless times by the NCAA, Devontez Walker.

Rucker was an absolute stud last week, generating two of the Tar Heels’ nine sacks and a game-high 5.5 tackles for loss.

Gaynor helped pave holes for a UNC ground game that combined for 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Kiernan only punted twice, but racked up 85 yards on his punts for a 42.5 yard average.

There’s no doubt that Walker will be cheered for the loudest when Carolina takes the field this afternoon. Expect to hear several “Free Tez” chants break out and for UNC players to be sporting those words on warm-up gear. You can best bet that if the NCAA is mentioned over the loudspeakers, fans will join in a chorus of boos.

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Social Media reacts to NCAA denying Tez Walker eligibility

Social Media reacts to NCAA denying North Carolina transfer wide receiver Tez Walker’s eligibility for the 2023-24 college football season.

The moment has finally arrived for UNC to hear if the NCAA would allow transfer Wide Receiver [autotag]Tez Walker[/autotag] to play this football this season for the Tar Heels.

Many were hopeful that the outpouring of nationwide support, including program rivals, would warrant the NCAA to make Walker eligible. Instead, their verdict remained unchanged, meaning no Walker for UNC this year.

The news was not taken lightly, with social media attacking the NCAA ruling by voicing their opinion. North Carolina’s football coach, Mack Brown, and UNC’s Sports Athletic Director, Bubba Cunningham, shared their feelings following the verdict.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever been more disappointed in a person, a group of people, or an institution than I am with the NCAA right now,” Brown said.

Cunningham shared similar feelings: “This decision undermines the fair treatment of student-athletes and further erodes the public’s confidence in our national governing body.”

To no surprise, this decision brought quite a reaction, especially with the announcement coming on the heels of what feels like a tone-death tweet by the NCAA.

Let us look at how social media reacted to the NCAA decision not to let Walker play.

Drake Maye voices support for Tez Walker after Saturday’s win

North Carolina Tar Heel Drake Maye voices support for Tez Walker following Saturday’s 31-17 win over South Carolina.

The North Carolina Tar Heels had an emotion-filled victory following their 31-17 victory over South Carolina.

The football program has had its fair share of battles prior to the season start, one being Tez Walker’s eligibility status. There was no denying its impact, with coaches, fans, and rivals voicing their support to let Walker play. Even country music star Eric Church walked out as an honorary captain in a Walker jersey for the Tar Heels.

After the game, the emotions regarding the status of Walker poured into the locker room, with quarterback [autotag]Drake Maye[/autotag] wearing the transfer wide receiver jersey and voicing his support to the media.

“The NCAA is taking away the ability for him to play. We love him. His grandma has been taking care of him. He lives right there. Maye said. “She couldn’t come to watch him play. The NCAA is just trying to make a statement. We love Tez. He’s a great dude. I played high school basketball against him just down the road. He’s just an awesome dude, and we are trying to do anything we can and hope they make the right decision.”

The star quarterback continued.

“It is a shame what they’ve done with him. Tez is different. He’s had a tough road. Everybody tells the story; you don’t need to go through it, but you have guys out there transferring three or four times, and Tez has done it the right way and doesn’t get rewarded.”

Updated news on Walker’s status is expected to come next week. It will be intriguing to see if his nationwide support will impact the verdict.

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College football writer says ‘nothing new to share’ with Devontez Walker

There is ‘nothing new’ in the NCAA’s case for Devontez Walker’s eligibility.

It’s becoming more and more likely that the North Carolina Tar Heels will be without wide receiver Devontez Walker for Saturday’s opener against South Carolina.

After the NCAA denied his immediate eligibility a few weeks ago, UNC filed an appeal to hopefully get it overturned. But since then, its been radio silence from the NCAA.

Brad Crawford of 247Sports did report that UNC was expecting Walker to be cleared and a decision would be coming last week. That didn’t happen. Now, Crawford says there is ‘nothing new to share’ in the situation with Walker as we are under three days until kickoff in Charlotte:

The closer we get to gameday, the less likely Walker is going to be cleared to play (obviously) and that’s bad news for the Tar Heels.

Walker is expected to be Drake Maye’s top target this season and is coming off a big year at Kent State. There’s a chance he will eventually be cleared but the status for Saturday remains in doubt.

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UNC Football: Offensive keys to the game against South Carolina

With UNC’s 2023 season-opener against South Carolina looming on Saturday, Sept. 2, we preview what is needed offensively for game success.

College football fans can finally rejoice – the season is upon us.

The 2023 campaign kicked off over the weekend with several “Week Zero” matchups, highlighted by Notre Dame’s 42-3 thumping of Navy in Dublin. 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams shined for USC, throwing for 278 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-28 Trojans win, while Vandy survived a scare against Hawaii in Nashville.

Florida and ranked Utah give us an appetizer on Thursday night, but the “main course” of college football is on Saturday, Sept. 2.

One of the most-anticipated matchups of Week One is the UNC-South Carolina game. There’s several reasons why – it’s primetime on ABC (7:30 p.m.), you have two of the country’s best quarterbacks in Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler facing off, plus teams with high expectations that ended 2022 on completely opposite notes.

This game is seen as one of UNC’s toughest in 2023. The Heels face off against an SEC team – if they win Saturday, that’s a massive step in contending for an ACC championship and, who knows, a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Gamecocks finished 8-5 and clinched a spot in the Gator Bowl last year, losing a tightly-contested battle to Notre Dame. South Carolina’s season landed them in the Final AP Top 25 poll for the first time since 2013.

The Tar Heels, on the other hand, looked like the better team from jump. They bolted out to a 9-1 start, with their only loss being at home to Notre Dame. Maye looked like a true Heisman contender, hitting receivers with any throw or making defenders miss with his legs.

Things quickly changed with a home loss to Georgia Tech, which became the first of four straight losses. UNC made its first ACC Championship Game appearance since 2015, but struggled in a 39-10 loss.

With high expectations once again this year, let’s take a look at what the Tar Heels need to do offensively in order to start 1-0 for the second straight year: