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Tez walker Coverage

Payton Wilson, Tez Walker, DeWayne Carter and more are set to make an impact in the NFL. Where you could see them go in the NFL Draft. 

<p>So we've talked about Drake May, we've talked about Graham Barton, we kind of talked about that top five situation. Let's turn now to the rest of the triangle players that we could potentially see drafted. Mark. How do you want to do this? You wanna just kind of, you start to pick a player, I pick a player, we just go back and forth and talk. I think we start with T Walker and then go to Peyton Wilson. I think those would be the top two. Let's start with T Walker though. And I think we'd be speaking about him differently if for the fact that he had played a full season, this is a loaded receiver class. I saw it at the combine. I was in Indianapolis, I saw the receivers work out and I'm looking at it where it's like this guy is a second or a third rounder in terms of the fluidity of movement. Walker was one of those guys, Bryant Thomas out of LSU was one of those guys. And you're like, how would that player not be a first round pick, but that's how loaded this year's class is. And I think it's the prevalence in the emergence of seven on sevens early on in college players career, we see a lot of players recruited Florida, Texas, California. The commonality Lewis is you can train outside year-round. We're seeing more spread style football, three receiver sets, four receiver sets and then to counter that you've got to play nickel packages with five D BS dime packages with six D BS. That's the reason why we're seeing year after year, after year, after year loaded receiver classes. I think T Walker could be one of those guys where we look back on, depending on where he goes and where he gets selected, where we say, how is he not a day one pick? In retrospect, he fits that caliber of player and he did himself a lot of favors with how he performed at the NFL combine. Yeah, the, the speed isn't something you can't teach and that goes so far in the NFL like uh so man, there are so many different receiver rooms that just need someone who can help lift the top off of a defense and offensively like the, the difference between when you can convince safeties to stay back versus when they can play tighter to the box. Um It's huge. So that's always going to be something that's very valuable. T Walker to me screams, you know, day two. The, the one question that people are going to have is his age. Um He's 23 years old, I believe. And, oh, it was so old. Like, that's the normal person and, and pop on that Miami tape, Lewis his coming out party when he had three touchdowns. You talk about the big playability and taking the top off the defenses. I was there in Chapel Hill for that game and it was just like, oh, the Tios are lighting up the scoreboard, strike up the band because they're putting up six yet again. Yes. Yes. They're, they're able to, they're, they're definitely able to, um, you know, put up a lot of points, teams I would assume would be able to, if they get t Walker. Now, I want to turn to defensively here, Peyton Wilson. Um, um, when, when you think of NC State football this year, it's hard to not think of Peyton Wilson just, and, and throughout his career right where he's just someone who's all over the field. His speed is wild. People always refer to that, um, play where he runs down in Notre Dame, running back on the sideline in the NC State, Notre Dame game. Um, there, he's able to play at that speed, it translates onto the field. Um What kind of questions do you have about Peyton Wilson as a prospect? The questions would be the age and the injury concerns earlier on in his career at NC State Louis. But the speed translating, you hit the nail on the head, you hit the nail on the head there because you look at the 40 yard dash time at the combine and you're like, and the explosiveness and it's running down guys for Notre Dame that can run 43 and 44. So if you can get defensive linemen in front of him, that have sound gap responsibility that can maybe even take up two gaps. And then he gets to just chase down ball carriers and run sideline to sideline. That's the reason why he won the Chuck Bednark award and that's given to the nation's best defensive player and why he's among the best defensive players ever in the history of NC state football which, which, and that's a long illustrious history. Yes. Yes. So I see what he brings to the table and his speed and it was not just the film of that. I remember the following Monday, Dave Dorn had his media availability and it told reporters this saying that Peyton Wilson running down that Notre Dame ball carrier was the fastest in the history of the NC State program that they've ever tracked any player. So include skill position players, include D BS receivers running backs and he's the fastest. I don't know how far their tracking goes back. That to me speaks volumes to where it's one thing to perform at the combine and it cut off in shorts, but it's another thing then to say that also translates on the field once you put the pads on Yeah, the, the one way I've heard a lot of, um, just analysts, scouts discuss Peyton Wilson is that he plays like his hair is on fire. Um, which is a huge compliment I think for especially defensive player, a linebacker. Um, one of my questions is gonna be, how does he, how, how does his run, um, stopping ability translate? Um, you know, he is a little bit undersized, um, at that linebacker position. So how does that work? Um, he showed case his pass rushing ability and how he's able to do that at the linebacker position. So I, I do think he's gonna be someone who, like, he's gonna be immediate plus into a team, whatever, whatever team he ends up going to, could definitely see him being day two, early day three at the latest. Um, now a couple of players I want to touch on. Ok, let's stick with the linebacker position here really quick. Cedric Gray who, you know, is, is similar to Peyton Wilson in that just an absolute tackle machine, right? Just constantly leading the UN C, um, defense and tackles. He's, he's someone who like was the only bright spot or for the most part on the UN C defense that has struggled over the past few years. Um, he's someone who I can also see is like a day, two, day, early, day three type, uh, guy who gets drafted. Some of that kind of depends on how teams value the linebacker position. Um, but he's, he's gonna be someone who I think makes an immediate impact on special teams and he can translate to, you know, the actual, um, you know, defense whenever he gets an opportunity, tackle machine, Lewis three consecutive seasons of 100 plus tackles. And remember they play a shorter season in college than they do in the pros. So all over the field and look, I am on record saying that the tar heels at a Swiss Cheese defense at the end of the year because Virginia put up the blueprint wasn't Cedrick Gray's fault. I promise you that in the front seven was not his fault. And look, there's the reason why UN C made the change and said, Gene Chizik, you're no longer gonna be our defense coordinator. You're gonna have a new DC in the 2024 season. But Cedric Gray was that constant for that tar heels defense and the one guy that you could rely upon to always consistently showing up around the football and making plays and he was that guy, three straight 100 tackle seasons in college. I, I, I'd expect that to translate over that. Right. Like it, football put simply it's organized violence but it's block. Can you block, can you tackle and tackling is a strong suit of Cedric Gray? Yeah, exactly. Um, now, who else would you like to talk about here as we continue as we start to round out the I wanna give Dwayne Carter his flowers the three time captain out of Duke. And the reason I say this too is a lot of the same attributes that I mentioned with. Graham Barton is Duke's success. Like look Riley Leonard's gonna get a lot of the praise as the team's quarterback, Riley Leonard's probably gonna be the starter for Notre Dame in the 2024 season. The blue double season was derailed by injuries, not just to Leonard, but Leonard was a big part of that of you start out four. No, and you kind of fall off and then you end up having to go to your third strength quarterback, but Dwayne Carter up front in terms of changing the culture, the mindset of what people think about Duke football. And it's the reason why Mike Elko was sought after as a head coach and it's the reason why Mike Elko is at Texas A and M now, but a three time captain, I thought he represented Duke really well at the AC C kickoff events before the start of the season. But when I think about how did Duke achieve success these last few years, people obsessed with the quarterback position with football, but to me, it's still a line of scrimmage game. And Dwayne Carter was a huge reason why Duke had the turnaround that it had, he, he's got good athleticism, he had good production, you know, playing that kind of defensive tackle position. It's not like he was a sack machine per se, but I don't think that measures, measuring based on those numbers or is the right way to measure him. I, I would, I would say when I look at the triangle prospects, I think Dwayne Carter has the best chance to outplay his drafted position. Like I think he's someone who you can get in the fourth or fifth round and can give you really good value at that position. I mean, he's someone who like, I want my Bengals to draft like we need defensive tackles. Let's, let's do it, let's make it happen. Um I, I think Dwayne Carter has a very bright future in the NFL too. Um, who else are we missing Lewis a couple of other names? I want to throw out here. Um Dylan mcmahon, uh center most likely out of NC state. Um He's someone who could be a late, uh, draft pick. Um Savion Jackson has had from NC State. He had a couple of the defensive lineman has had a couple of, um, visits with the West Coast teams, I believe. Um Shain battle over at state as well. I'm looking at Duke. Um Jayleen Calhoun is someone who I think is really interesting with his punt return ability. Um, and who can be that kind of, you know, possession receiver for a team. Um Al Blades Junior at corner, um, uh Jacob Monk over at Duke as well, an offensive lineman who you think you'll see gold late in the draft if not be a high priority undrafted free agent. Um One other name I wanted to throw here or I guess two more names. One is um Jalen Wright, the running back who could potentially be Tennessee running back could potentially be one of the top player running backs taken in the draft. He's out of Southern Durham. Yep. He, he, he played a Southern Durham so he's a local product. Um And then one other name I want to kind of soap box here for a second is NCCU quarterback Davis Richard. Um just to kind of put some perspective here, right? Um He had nearly 9000 passing yards and, and a little over 2000 rushing yards in his career at NCCU 73 passing touchdowns, 44 rushing touchdowns. Like dude is just a machine from that perspective. He's got the stereotypical prototypical height and weight that you want and a quarterback. Um And you know, he just, he has that speed as well, 45 speed. Um He, so it's, it's kind of actually kind of sad in the, um H BC legacy bowl. He had what looked like a pretty gnarly injury to his leg. Um, after scoring a touchdown, there was some concern there. Uh He told Mia Barry of ancap that he should be good to go by training camp. It was an ankle dislocation. Um but he's kind of, he's been told apparently once again by Mia Barry that the scouts are looking at him as like 1/6 or seventh round pick. He would be the first quarterback selected from an H BC U since 2006. So, and if, if there's gonna be a quarterback, I think to break that stretch, Davis Richard would be the guy. So I, I hope that Davis Richard has an opportunity if I mean, he's gonna get one. It's just a question of does he get drafted or will he be a un uh under the high priority undrafted free agent? Um So it's more of the local names. Really good info there Lewis. I'll go to write of what I know about him is people are gonna salivate over that 40 time. Would I look that is the broad jump in the explosiveness, an 11 ft two inch broad jump and I get with the Tennessee connection. He's drawn some comparisons to another Tennessee running back by the name of Alvin Kamara, I think writes a little bit more explosive in terms of just being a overall athlete. Now, how that translates to the pros and the versatility and how Kamara has been a star player for the Saints. I'm not saying he's Al Kara, but I can understand those comparisons just given what he did at UT and local connection in North Carolina. I running backs devalued Lewis, but I would expect his name to be called at some point in time, day two, day three, I, I almost wish sometimes that the NFL draft was a little earlier in April because I think that it gets very easy for teams to start overthinking things. Um And I think, for example, I don't know if I would pick running back like top five in the draft, but like if it makes sense, do it draft the guys who are gonna make your teams better, but I digress. Um All right, Mark Bergen, anything you wanna add before we sign off here, we'll have full coverage on WRL Sports fan.com Thursday nights, round two Friday, rounds two and three and then Saturday close it out, rounds 456 and seven. Tuesday, Tuesday edition of Wrl Triangle and two Lewis, special teams, special plays, special players, Mark Bergen. Big sketch guy confirmed. Uh Thank, thank you all so much for watching. Uh We will see you coming up uh next week where I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about whether it be the Carolina Panthers and, and their draft situation. All these local guys where they're going, um, appreciate you all watching, catch us wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch us on 99 9, the Fans youtube page or on WRL Sports fan NFL draft week, top five week in the year, in my opinion. Thank you all so much for watching. I'm Mark, I'm not Mark Bergen. I'm lo fan as he's Mark berger. We'll talk to y'all later.</p>

Where local players land past first round of NFL Draft

Payton Wilson during pregame warmups

There was standing room only at the UNC Pro Day, with plenty of scouts to watch nearly 20 players, but especially quarterback Drake Maye.

Drake Maye throwing session highlights North Carolina Pro Day

Drake Maye throws during Pro Day

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy broke the 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine, running it in 4.21 seconds.

2024 NFL Combine observations from day three: Xavier Worthy breaks 40-yard dash record

Drake Maye, Tez Walker and Payton Wilson are among the 321 prospects invited to the 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

Here are the UNC, NC State and Duke players invited to the 2024 NFL Combine

Drake Maye

Student-athletes, including Duke defensive lineman DeWayne Carter, are suing the NCAA and the Power 5 conferences claiming that rules that prohibit schools from paying their athletes violate antitrust law.

CHANGE EVERYTHING. >> THERE ARE NO SHORTAGE OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT HERE DURING OUR IN-DEPTH SEGMENTS TO POWER BILLS, CHILDCARE, GUN VIOLENCE, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, EVEN THE IDEA OF TIME ITSELF, I'M LOOKING AT YOU DAYLIGHT SAVING. BUT THERE IS ONE SUBJECT WE KIND OF DOVE INTO A LOT THIS YEAR. SOMETHING WE COULDN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT. THE FIGHT FOR TELLS WALKER AFTER WALKER TRANSFERRED WHAT? IS TED WALKER'S MAJOR? I MENTIONED UNC WIDE RECEIVER TELLS WALKER HAS WALKER COULD PLAY. NOW HE CAN PLAY. OH HONEY, I FORGOT UNC IS BY YOU. IS IT NICE THERE? THIS ENTIRE UNFORTUNATE EPISODE. >> WE HAVE BEEN AVOIDED >> YEAH. OKAY. I HEAR YA. WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVER. DID IT JUST A BIT THEN AGAIN, THAT HAS WALKER SITUATION. IT ISN'T SO MUCH A STORY AS IT IS A SAGA. THERE ARE CHAPTERS IN IN FOOTNOTES AND IT WAS LITTLE DRAWINGS IN THE MARGINS, NOT EVERYBODY'S HERE FOR MORE. LINDA SENT ME AN E-MAIL WITH THE SUBJECT LINE WALKER WRITING, CAN YOU PLEASE, PLEASE MOVE ON MORELAND? I'M TRYING. ALL RIGHT. MY FIRST NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION IS TO DROP THE STORY. I PROMISE. BUT SINCE WE HAVE ANOTHER WEEK OF 2023, LET'S TURN TO THE FINAL CHAPTER OR IS IT MORE LIKE A SPINOFF OR A POST-CREDITS SCENE? EITHER WAY? LET'S GO IN DEPTH. >> SO AFTER TRANSFERRING FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL TO SCHOOL TELLS WALKER IS NOW TRANSFERRING. >> TO THE NFL, THE BIG SHOW JUST IN TIME FOR A JUDGE TO PIPE IN ON THE SUBJECT. YOU SEE A BUNCH OF STATES INCLUDING NORTH CAROLINA AND ACTUALLY SUED THE NCAA OVER THAT TO TRANSFER RULE. THAT KEPT HAS OFF THE FIELD EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE COURT ISSUED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER THAT PUTS THE RULE ON HOLD WHILE THE SORT EVERYTHING OUT. SO KIDS ARE TRANSFER TWICE OR MORE LIKE 10'S AND COULDN'T PLAY LIKED AS CAN NOW GET IN THE GAME. AND WHILE THAT KIND OF FELT LIKE THE END OF THE SHOW, TURNS OUT THERE'S ALREADY A NEW SEASON SET JUST OFF TOBACCO ROAD. A DUKE FOOTBALL PLAYER, DWAYNE CARTER IS AMONG THE NEW GROUP. NOW COLLEGE ATHLETES SUING THE NCAA. THEY CLAIM PREVENTING SCHOOLS FROM PAYING ATHLETES DIRECTLY IS A VIOLATION OF ANTITRUST LAW. CARTER WRITES IN A STATEMENT, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN NCAA SPORTS, BUT THE ONLY ONES WHO CANNOT BE PAID ARE THE ATHLETES. BUT ANO GUY WAIT, THEN WE ALREADY SETTLE THIS WHOLE THING. MAN. THEN IN LEGALIZING NIL DEALS, SETTLE THIS. THAT'S WHERE THE ATHLETES CAN USE THEIR CELEBRITY. A NAME TO GET PAID FOR SELLING PRODUCTS AND DOING LOCAL COMMERCIALS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. WELL, NOT QUITE. YOU SEE ONE OF THE ONLY RULES WITH NIL IS THAT SCHOOLS CAN'T MAKE DEALS THEMSELVES. THEY CAN'T PAY THE ATHLETES DIRECTLY. DWAYNE CARTER IS PRETTY MUCH SAYING, WELL, WE JUST GET RID OF THAT RULE, TOO. AND THE NCAA DOESN'T TOTALLY DISAGREE. THIS MONTH. THE NCAA PRESIDENT PROPOSED A NEW TIER OF DIVISION, ONE SCHOOLS WITH THE MOST RESOURCES CAN ACTUALLY OFFER NIL DEALS AND EVEN PAY THEIR ATHLETES DIRECTLY. THIS ELITE LEAGUE OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE A COUPLE OF RULES LIKE PAYING AT LEAST HALF OF THEIR ATHLETES AND PAYING THEM AT LEAST $30,000. EACH NOW. THAT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE ALL THAT MUCH. BUT THINK ABOUT A SCHOOL LIKE TEXAS, A&M A HUGE SCHOOL WITH HUNDREDS OF ATHLETES HAS AT LEAST 10 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND AGAIN, CONSIDER THEY JUST PAID A SINGLE FOOTBALL COACH JIMBO FISHER. 75 MILLION BUCKS TO LEAVE. THEY BOUGHT OUT HIS CONTRACT AND FIRED IT. SO PERHAPS THEY CAN FIND AN ADDITIONAL 10 MILLION. I'M SOMEONE THE COUCH CUSHIONS OR SOMETHING AGAIN. SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THEY MIGHT HAVE THIS ALL FIGURED OUT. BUT AGAIN, THERE'S A HITCH. THE NCAA DOESN'T WANT TO CLASSIFY ATHLETES AS EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THAT MIGHT TURN INTO A SLIPPERY WHAT I MEAN IS A SURE. AND I OWN $30,000 DIRECT PAYMENTS. SURE, WE GOTCHA SHARING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM TV DEALS. YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S KEEP THAT IN OUR POCKETS. IT BRINGS ME ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE POINT THAT I MADE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE STORIES WHEN THIS HOLT HAS WALKER EPISODE STARTED, I MADE THE POINT THAT NO ONE CARED ABOUT HIS MAJOR, WHAT IT WAS NOW TAR HEEL FANS. THEY WERE MAD AT YOU WHEN I SAY THAT BECAUSE TELLS WALKER ACTUALLY A GREAT STUDENT, BUT THAT WAS MY POINT. THE STORY WAS NEVER ABOUT HES OR HIS PRIORITIES. IT'S ABOUT OURS. WHETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORT TO TIME TRANSFERS OF THE TRANSFER PORTAL WHERE NIL DEALS ARE PAYING PLAYERS FINE. DO YOU HAVE YOUR OPINION? BUT WE NEED TO STOP PRETENDING THAT THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION, NOT SAYING IT'S A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. BUT WE WANT IF WE WANT TO BUILD AN EDUCATION SYSTEM WHERE KIDS ARE GETTING PAID TO PLAY SPORTS IN THESE BILLION-DOLLAR CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED TO PRIME TIME GAMES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY ON A SCHOOL NIGHT. WE NEED TO HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS. AND THIS IS THE PLACE TO DO IT. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ON THIS ONE OR OR ANYTHING WE'RE REVISITING CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD THIS PAST YEAR. THERE'S STILL TIME EMAIL ME, DAN AT WRAL DOT COM. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT. TELL ME IF I SEE SOMETHING YOU DISAGREE WITH. YOU THINK I'VE LEFT OUT OR YOU HAVE AN OPINION YOU WANT TO SHARE. LET ME KNOW.

In Depth with Dan revisited: Final chapter of Tez Walker saga

How former Gov. Mike Easley played a role in Tez Walker's eligbility

Judge John P. Bailey made his decision in a lawsuit brought by the attorneys general in seven states, including North Carolina. The temporary order is for 14 days.

College athletes that transfer twice can play now without NCAA waiver, federal judge rules

Tez Walker

It was all Wolfpack Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium, as Brennan Armstrong threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to freshman phenom KC Concepcion. Head coach Dave Doeren is hoping to keep the talent on the roster and shoo away potential NIL poachers.

>> WRAL, SPORTS STARTS NOW. >> DONATION FROM START TO FINISH IN SEA STATE. COMPLETELY OUTCLASSED NORTH CAROLINA IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE GAME WINNING 39 TO 20 ON SENIOR NIGHT. >> CHRIS, AS DISAPPOINTING AS UNC WAS IN THIS GAME, NC STATE WAS EQUALLY AS IMPRESSIVE. THEY HAVE OWNED THIS RIVALRY THE LAST 3 YEARS. THIS TIME LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE IT. CASEY CONCEPCION WAS MISTER. DO EVERYTHING FOR THE PACK. THE TRUE FRESHMAN LED THE PACK IN RECEIVING AND RUSHING YARDS, FINISHING THE GAME WITH 186 ALL-PURPOSE YARDS. DAVE DOEREN SAID AFTER THE GAME THAT THE PACKS GROWTH ON OFFENSE SIMPLY CAME FROM STRIPPING AWAY INEFFICIENCIES AND MISTAKES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. >> YOU KNOW, THAT'S 3 IN A ROW RIGHT THERE. IT'S IT'S OVER 1400 DAYS SINCE THEY BEAT US AND THAT'S A PRETTY AWESOME THING TO BE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE THAT'S A GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM WITH GOOD COACHING STAFFS AND I'M PROUD OF OUR GUYS AND THE COACHES FOR THAT. >> UNC JUST NEVER GOT GOING IN THIS GAME PENALTIES AND SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS LEAD TO ANOTHER WAY TO THE FINISH LINE. IT'S ALL ME. >> COMPLETELY. YOU CAN'T PLAY AS BAD AS WE DID IN THE 1ST HALF WITHOUT THE HEAD COACH DOING A POOR JOB AHEAD, OUR TEAM POORLY PREPARED. OBVIOUSLY. >> DRAKE MAYE GOT HURT IN THE 4TH QUARTER. BUT INSISTED ON COMING BACK IN THE GAME SAYS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE KID. HIS CHARACTER NEVER QUESTIONED. NOW, HE DID SAY HAS MADE A DECISION ABOUT THE BOWL GAME. ONE OF THE CHANCE TO FINISH THE SEASON, RIGHT? OBVIOUSLY CAN GET A CHANCE TO THAT THAT THEY'VE GOURD. >> HE TALKED ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, CASEY CONCEPCION AND OTHER PLAYERS WHO ARE DOING WELL, OF COURSE, OTHER TEAMS MAY WANT TO KIND OF TRY TO COME THE POST HIM. SO HE'S ASKING WOLFPACK NATION, PLEASE DONATE TO OUR WOLF PACK COLLECTIVE SO WE CAN HAVE MORE IN I'LL MONEY. WE'LL SEE IF THAT ENDS

Wolfpack rolls UNC 39-20; Doeren hoping to keep talent together

Dave Doeren and Payton Wilson

Tez Walker has had a long and winding journey to finally play college football for North Carolina. He transferred multiple times and overcame an ACL injury, but he is finally living out his dream of playing at the highest level.

'It wasn't easy getting here': Tez Walker explains his journey to Tar Heels, close ties to his family

One of the defining stories this college football season has been Tez Walker.  The UNC receiver's long waiver appeal process received local and national support.  Since being ruled eligible he's lived up to the hype and more.  Pat Welter sat down with Walker to discuss the mental toll and the woman behind his motivation.  

<p>Before every game, Tes Walker takes a lap. Like I like to be calm before games. Like I know like when I was younger, I used to walk like the neighborhood, walk down the street, take walks clear my mind. So ever since I like my ninth grade high school, I just take walks. He's taken many steps to get here and for a long time he thought he'd only be able to watch, uh T Walker. We're trying to secure his immediate eligibility. Walker's eligibility is Walker and his eligibility. What was it like for you? Mentally? Just going through that? Will he won't he play that for all those months? Yeah, it was, it was hard, real hard, you know, trying to fake a smile every day which I did. Um I like, like people feeling bad for me like it makes me feel worse. So going through that every day, it was, it wasn't a good feeling at all. Tez came to UN C as a two time transfer. As difficult as his waiver process was. Carolina made sure he didn't fight alone as the appeal denials piled up, the support only grew from a letter to the NCAA by Governor Roy Cooper, to fans, celebrities and teammates wearing his jersey in protest. Need him out there. I know it's just something that means you got guys out there transferred three and four times playing and TED out here done it the right way and he's not getting rewarded. Taz had a strong case even in the face of tighter NCAA restrictions. Number one, he's only played at one school that's different than a lot of these other guys. There were legal reasons. There was also love, ok, we're doing over eggs and devotes favorite before Tez was ever cooking. College Defenders Kitchen butter. He was learning how to fry an egg they have. It. Devante is famous easy over egg that he loves. But the relationship is much deeper than that even though his grandma has been more like mom because, you know, he's been with me since he was born. Te grew up living in his grandmother's house in West Charlotte when he was in middle school, his mother and sister moved out but Ted stayed, I didn't wanna take him out of place and basically, you know, we keep him in a position because he was already settled and going his own way. So I didn't wanna take that away. Staying in his school was one reason taking care of. Loretta was another, you know, I had two hip replacements left and right, the knee replacement, left, knee replacement and I broke that knee like she couldn't do nothing on her own. Like she just had, she had to stay in bed so I would feed her, bathe her, you know, she used the bag and I had to go like, take it out and things like that. So I pretty much was, was her caregiver. He was becoming a man at home and a star on the football field all that time. Loretta never got to see him play. So when he transfers to North Carolina, what, what are you thinking? I get a chance to come. I get a chance to see him play clock will expire at North Carolina will win it. The first four games of the season went by and the moment never came, you know, didn't want to get out of bed some days and he wanted to go to school, you know, like everybody looking at me as the guy like, oh, he can't play because, you know, transferred that many times on October 5th. The family's fortunes changed. Matt Brown and UN C receivers coach Lonnie Galloway told Walker the NCAA had reversed its decision. A lot of pressure on my shoulders. I was glad it was finally over. That was my birthday morning. So that was like super exciting. I'm just yelling through the house since that moment, he's rewarded everyone that fought for him 6.5 of the quarter and a touchdown. Turns one, his first touchdown catch as a tar heel no one more thrilled than Loretta who finally got to see him play. Oh, it was like, wow, am I here? I said this is what this look like. Wow, it was energetic. You know, the uh the fans were so wonderful after they found out who we were and everything that was so, so kind. You've been through a lot, but now that you're here, would you change anything about it? I wouldn't. No. And I feel like, you know, everyone has a story and um I, I thank, I thank God for everything he's put me through. Still thanking him for what he's gonna still put me through. You know, it's gonna be adversity throughout your whole life. So I'm just thankful for, for it all. Pat Walter Wrl Sports.</p>