#NFLVideos: #FREETEZ Tez Walker & North Carolina take on the NCAA and inspire a movement | NFL360

#FREETEZ Tez Walker & North Carolina take on the NCAA and inspire a movement | NFL360

I
[Music]
am Walker walk around a young
[Music]
transa
changes policy has Walker ruled
[Music]
ineligible I was about 4 years old told
my grandma I’m going to play in the
NFL
Walker breaking down the sideline is
Walker
Zone touchdown Devon
Walker never the many years thought I
see my grandson in college on the
football field walker entered the
transfer portal to play closer to home
so his biggest fan could watch him my
grandmother she had a lot of surgery and
need help with stuff around the house so
it’ll be easier for me to go home versus
trying to go home okay free
test free test we get off of the bus and
we’re told that he’s ineligible for the
game I’m in shocke deathe deathe
death third time in four years the
season has been taken away from
[Applause]
me I a know what to do at that
point I am at
[Music]
War when he enrolled at North Carolina
Central they cancel football season
because of Co he felt like he would have
the onetime transfer from Kent State and
he was coming back here to be closer to
his grandmother who is dealing with bad
health issues and she was a huge role in
his upbringing he’s done everything
right he made a decision based on what
was best for him that he thought was
within the rules and for his grandmother
and his family and now we’re sitting
here 4 weeks from game time not knowing
if he’s even going to have an
opportunity to
[Music]
play my grandma sees my rer
die Divine says and his grandmother had
a special bond from the beginning since
I brought him home from the hospital
Dave just been
CL he was my first R baby I just held
him all the time you know just cling to
me I always wanted to be around her
whatever she did I wanted to do she get
up and go to the bathroom I most likely
wanted to get up and go to the bathroom
with her IV I
couldn’t he was a character just loved
him to death we did everything together
we couldn’t sit still he was just an
active little
person he was always running he stayed
run but it wasn’t until maybe he got up
to 3 and four when he started taking
interest in into
football believe it or not I didn’t find
out how fast I was until my sophomore
year high school I had a lot of deep
shots that year and just running by
people on the field catching screens and
Slants and out run
everyone and that’s when his dream
became more like the vision for him he
was saying he was going
pro he was like
I’mma show you and I said well I’m I’m
looking lot was put on his plate but you
would never know the way he carried
himself I have rur arthritis throughout
my
body I have to have both hip replaced
had the left knee replaced and I broke
that knee scoliosis in my spine you know
back problems just a lot of Agony and
pain I’m at the age I’m starting to
understand and realize know a lot of
pain she was in a lot of things she
going through so I decided to be the one
to um stay with my grandma be able to
help her out through her
troubles took initiative and just
started um being a caretaker feed her
cook for breakfast lunch dinner make
sure I took my medicine make sure you
know I can get to the
bathroom he came to my Aid you know say
you know it’s going to be all right I’m
here it was like you don’t have to worry
about nobody coming to take care of you
give you what you need I got
[Music]
you you know we have each other
[Applause]
back marity here West Charlotte live
vonz Walker touchdown catch several big
catches in the game 201710 win over
Harding vonz what was the
I hear you man now you’re committ East
Carolina what that
coaches everybody the coaches
like that’s most
important we were coming off a high day
the day before with Signing Day so we
had a you know nice little celebration
for him and you know he went out to you
know get some work initially he was
running routes on air but you know a
couple of his classmates were out there
and you know uh when young guys get
going they get competitive you know ran
a around jumped up for a pass you know
came down I heard a teor and I felt it
like it literally felt like somebody
just literally pulled my knee
apart he was in pain and you know we had
to get him to the hospital under my
breath I was like this is not good I get
diagnosed with a torn ACL torn PCL and
like partially torn meniscus
everything just came crashing down
scholarship got taken away so that
really killed him I wasn’t going to be
able to do all those things that I told
him I want to do buying that house for
my mom Grandma being there for my
younger
sisters I went to my grandma I’m crying
in tears like I’m laying on her on her
chest she’s just like God has a plan for
all of us it’s not over till he says
it’s over you’re here for a purpose
[Music]
he was going to do what he needed to do
to get back on the football field
playing after surgery he had to start
from ground zero to get that KN to where
he’s able to be explosive faster quicker
stronger he was
relentless he got a job at Bojangles pay
for his own training going 4 days a week
rehab work rehab trying to find a
college and plus help out with his
grandmother now it’s pretty much my
routine for next year he was able to put
himself in a space mentally to know that
he can make it to the next level to help
his family that was what was at
State I seen his high school highlight
out to uh coach Edwards at you know
North Carolina Central he called me back
3 minutes later he was like man we got
to have
him once he got the opportunity at North
Carolina Central we thought he’s back on
the field doing what he loves to
do then the
Co North Carolina Central canel their
season now it’s been two years that he
didn’t play he transfers to Kent State
and his first year they red shirted him
so he really didn’t get to play his
first season at Kent State so it’s like
okay it’s another
year so we went to off season he worked
train came back for the second year at
Kent State and he showed the world who
was Devon
[Music]
walkeron Walker and they had a tough
non-con schedule they play
Washington Walker the Oklahoma and
Georgia and you know when that schedule
came out he was like coach can I tell
you something everybody going to know me
when we play Georgia the number one
ranked Bulldogs take on the Kent State
golden flashes slings it out to the
sideline and this streaking down the
sideline is Walker who free and this is
a touchdown for Kent State devontes
Walker you talking about an uncle in the
stand hollering and and slapping hands
and giving high fives I didn’t care that
was my nephew I wanted the world to know
devontes Walker it is a 56 yd touchdown
I almost picked up my TV and hugged it I
was so excited I took off around my
house and I was just yelling and
screaming I was screaming at the TV
tears crying I was just so proud but my
H was upset cuz I couldn’t be there in
person to support
him after Georgia game we on the phone
so I asked did she eat anything was she
going to eat that night she was like
no um you know I’m like you know I’m
hurting a little bit don’t like getting
up I’m just wait till know tomorrow to
get something to eat I start you know
worrying panicking like like I’m pretty
sure that ain’t the first time she’s
done that before like she’s probably
definitely done that she never said
nothing so I’m just like you know I got
to get home like go help her
out on January 99th he trans transferred
to North Carolina on January 11th they
changed the rule when he transferred we
thought it it was an absolute no-brainer
because he fits every reason that
transfers should be eligible and then we
were really really surprised when it was
denied and
disappointed in the previous rule for
the waiver process again it’s a case-by
casee basis but it could be you know you
have a sick or ailing family member
something something tragic happens in
your family where you need to move back
closer to home there’s different ways to
get the waiver granted the NCA changed
that rule a couple days after TZ was
enrolled to basically say the only way
you can get this waiver is if you can
prove documentation that you have legit
mental health
issues we had all the information to
present to the NCAA um we felt like we
had a very strong case with his waiver
you know being that everything that was
going on with his family um and him you
know we submitted to waiver then from
there was the waiting
game obviously you know keep up from
guys from Charlotte so kind of watch him
have his his two years at Kent State um
kind of exploded and that’s kind of the
first time you know I really kind of saw
him play football um since since high
school back in the day and then from
there he said I need this guy in
Carolina blue we hit off right off the
bat hitting that stride early kind of a
little bit get adjusted to how deceptive
his speed is and I know from there just
you know see him turn over in the spring
practice Spring ball summer training it
was for that opportunity to play one of
the biggest games in my life in front of
my family it’s North Carolina versus
South Carolina in the opener all lies on
Tar Hill quarterback Drake May and his
new weapon devontes Walker we’re on the
bus headed to play South Carolina in
Charlotte in Bank America Stadium his
dream where he’s got 30 family members
and friends that have bought tickets to
see him
play and as we’re getting off the bus
we’re told that he’s ineligible for the
game I’m in
shock have a whole another season taken
away from
me third time in 4
[Music]
years my heart
dropped I just went in my room and just
laid in my bed and cried I felt they
denied him also they denied
me cuz I wouldn’t be able to see him
play it really hit the whole locker room
I think even hit the whole
campus to be able to uh see the hurt
that was placed on
him you know he’s always in study hall
he works hard at his grades he’s a great
teammate he’s a great person
and then for him to get that taken away
from him because they changed the rules
that was very
hurtful shoot I remember sitting in the
locker room watching him you know break
down next to me and you know kind of you
know kind of got tear tear eyed
myself the ncaa’s decision in the TZ
Walker case is senseless uh it’s wrong
and frankly
shameful after transferring he was
notified by the NCAA that they changed
their transfer policy both North
Carolina Central and Kent State
supported his transfer waiver and yet
the NCAA has still denied he didn’t do
anything wrong it’s disgusting
NCAA disgusting
uh can’t even can’t even comprehend can
you imagine Fielding those waivers
you’re the one judging it you have to
look through and decide if a family’s
medical emergency is emergency enough to
transfer
[Music]
we started to hear it get louder and
like hear like throughout the stadium
nothing but a ton of fan
support from these fans for TZ Walker
next thing you know like they have me
like all over the jumbo
try seeing that I had the whole school
whole Community behind me teammates is
well this man walk
Manon walk they had signs and hats free
Taz Walker shirts it was amazing shoot
one of our Rivals he even posted
something about free and
[Music]
Taz former teammates and colleagues that
live in different states would post on
social media free
te see it on Sports Center you see it on
Game Day people talking about it just do
do a kid wrong that doesn’t deserve it
Freez
Walker went to social media the Press
they had Governor Roy Cooper get
involved I just decided to to write him
a letter about this uh because of the
gross unfairness of particularly amidst
the backdrop of the what is now the wild
west of the
NCAA the more people rally behind them
and the more anger and rage from people
and not even connected to the UNC
program it was the honor of my life to
wear this jersey for this Gamez
Walker you’re not supposed to stand up
against the NCAA that’s the
establishment you’re supposed to be
scared that they’re going to come after
you and they’re they’re going to hurt
you for what you said it was about what
was best for TZ I’ve never been more
proud of this place than when everybody
stood up for what was right
Walker has
immediately reveral walks have been
denied for months now I sent TZ a text
message and said I need you to get over
here Coach Brown has some news for you
so we get to Coach Brown office I walk
in and then Coach Brown was like
standing there with like the biggest
like smile on his face I’m just like
like like what like what what’s all this
you’re eligible you’re eligible big dog
I
appreciate he called me on the phone and
said I’m eligible to
play at that moment tears came I
screamed I
shout hallelujah to God cuz I never in
the mid years thought i’ see my grandson
on the football
[Music]
field you were
[Music]
[Applause]
when I found Devon come out that flag I
just hold my chest you know just so
proud it was a moment that he he’s been
waiting
[Music]
for he’s out of bounds no he was not wow
full extension climb the ladder and go
get it I jokeer smile just like this ear
to
ear it was a real special M for me my
grandma in attendance and her seeing
seeing those things he just makes me
feel good you that’s that’s what I’m
what I’m feeling right
now you know playing in front of a
family member that you never when you
play is uh pretty special it’s one of
the coolest things you know the sport um
that I’ve seen the past couple years
throwing on the Run
touchdown TZ
Walker his first touchdown catch as aard
the cheers that you heard from the crowd
I’m is bigger than any cheer I’ve heard
throughout you know my time in Carolina
Laing it again for Walker he has it
touchdown Walker again T Walker third
touchdown of the
night touchdown touchdown touchdown 31
yd strike from Drake May to Walker that
moment where grandma got to see him play
and that whole family is standing in the
middle of Kenan Stadium hugging his neck
is what sports is all
about very blessed and happy see finally
got to witness that now she’s going to
witness me on Sunday something we’ve
always talked about something we’ve
always dreamed about just a very good
feeling

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