UNC WR Walker on NCAA appeal: ‘It’s frustrating’

• Andrea Adelson, ESPN

  • Senior Citizen WriterAug 22, 2023, 07:36 PM ET Close ACC reporter. Signed up with ESPN.com in 2010.
  • Graduate of the University of Florida.North Carolina

receiver Devontez Walker said Tuesday he is annoyed he still has no answer about whether he will have the ability to play this season as he awaits an NCAA choice on his appeal.Earlier this month, North Carolina revealed Walker had his waiver to play rejected, the outcome of new legislation passed in January making it more difficult for two-time transfers to have actually waivers authorized. North Carolina appealed on his behalf but has actually been provided no schedule on when his case will be heard. The season starts in 10 days against South Carolina in Charlotte. “It’s aggravating,”Walker told ESPN in his first public remarks since his waiver was denied.” It’s B.S. I don’t know how I will feel throughout the season if I’m unable to play. “Editor’s Picks 1 Related The appeal will be heard by a committee of agents from Division I schools. The committee

will then make a decision and present it to the NCAA. North Carolina has asked to provide its case to the committee in a teleconference so Walker can speak on his own behalf. However North Carolina has not been notified yet whether the committee will approve that option.So Walker waits as the season gets closer to kickoff on Sept. 2 in Charlotte– his home town and the reason he is back in North Carolina.

Walker made the decision to transfer from Kent State last December to be closer to his family in Charlotte, specifically his grandmother, Loretta Black, who assisted raise him.Walker detailed psychological health difficulties he faced being up until now from home, as Black dealt with her physical health and underwent surgical treatment while he was at Kent State. Given the way the NCAA has started to stress the psychological health needs of professional athletes, Walker said he does not comprehend the preliminary denial of his waiver.” I simply seem like it ain’t reasonable, particularly someone in my circumstance,”Walker stated.”They say they stand on psychological health. I have the ideal scenario and now it’s similar to the hell with it,

we’re simply going to show a point and reject it. So it’s frustrating, seeing what they’re doing. “While Walker was in high school, he acted as Black’s main caretaker as she dealt with numerous health difficulties, consisting of knee and hip replacement. She was unable to do much for herself. Walker, who was already dealing with her at the time, did the cooking, cleaning and food shopping, and likewise bathed and clothed her. In 2020, he had the opportunity to play near home at NC Central, and arranged for other family members to care for her. North Carolina receiver Devontez Walker, center, flanked by his grandmas Loretta Black( left )and

Sandra Walker(best), as he commemorates his graduation from West Charlotte High School. Devontez Walker He was still able to visit house, however COVID-19 required the cancellation of the season. Walker wanted to play, and Kent State was the only alternative he had available. So he decided to relocate to Ohio just so he could see the field. Walker said being far from home started to take a toll on his mental health. He had the ability to visit his grandmother just two times a year, and though he started to play well, he said his behavior altered as he stressed more about her as last season progressed.”It weighed on me a lot, “he said.”She had a surgical treatment while I was gone, so there were a lot of things she was going through at the time I was up there. I was producing on the field, but I would go home every night and was upset because I could not see her, and I couldn’t help her. Week 7, Week 8 I thought I might leave to get someplace closer to house. It didn’t matter where it was to me, as long as I could get home to help her out. “Walker said he talked to the

group physician about his mental health difficulties. When he entered the portal in December, Walker had actually lost his head coach and position coach, and his closest good friends also chose to transfer. He said the team doctor suggested he begin seeking mental health counseling at his brand-new school.”I desire people to know this ain’t no fraud and no sob story,”Walker stated.” I have actually seen things on Twitter when we put this stuff out, people believe it’s some sob story so I can be qualified to play. It isn’t. This took place. I take it to heart. That’s what I desire people to understand. “Walker stated he was aware that when he picked North Carolina, he

would need to submit a waiver to play as a two-time transfer. But he said he had no concept the NCAA was on the brink of tightening the waiver approval process.On Jan. 11, two days after Walker began classes at North Carolina, the Division I Council voted unanimously to substantially tighten up the requirements for waivers. The NCAA says “multiple-time transfers who can not demonstrate and sufficiently record an individual need for medical or safety reasons to leave the previous school are not eligible to complete instantly following their second undergraduate transfer.”According to the NCAA, the Department I board of directors enacted August 2022 to limit the waiver guidelines, and the board’s direction made it clear to NCAA members that waivers would be harder to come by this year. That was news to both Walker and North Carolina, who then realized it would become a lot more tough than prepared for to get a waiver. The school worked for months to put the necessary documents together, including documents about his mental health and need to be closer to house. In addition, Kent State likewise sent in paperwork stating Walker required to move for psychological health reasons.North Carolina coach Mack Brown has actually expressed his own aggravation with the procedure, telling press reporters recently,”I see a psychological health problem, I see it at the greatest level and I can’t picture some committee that’s staying up in Indianapolis with doors closed which has never met this kid doesn’t need to step up and actually take a look at psychological health if we’re stressed over student-athlete welfare like we say we are, because you’re removing his opportunity to play. Tez requires to be able to play, and people need to defend it.”Walker has gotten mental health therapy because his arrival at North Carolina. As for the method he has managed news of the preliminary waiver rejection, Walker stated he continues to practice in the hope that he will be permitted to play. If he’s not, he said he will remain on the team and sit out the season, per NCAA guidelines.”Some days, I’ll be fine and after that the next day, I’m breaking down weeping in front of coaches,” Walker said. “Because I don’t know if I’m going to play. They inform me every day it’s out of my hands, not to fret about it. However it’s tough to not consider it. It feels like I’m out there practicing for no reason

.”