REACTION: UNC Playmaker's Absence Could Change Strategy For South Carolina

South Carolina's Football team might not have to face North Carolina's star wide receiver in Tez Walker after an NCAA ruling that was handed down on Tuesday.

The matchup between South Carolina and North Carolina is one of the most highly anticipated games in the week one slate. College Gameday is coming to Charlotte, the game is getting its own primetime slot in the nightcap, and two of the biggest quarterback names in the county, South Carolina's Spencer Rattler and North Carolina's Drake Maye, will square off in one of the most hyped quarterback matchups at the beginning of the college football season.

One offensive name on North Carolina's side that hasn't reached South Carolina talking circles enough is Tez Walker, a Kent State transfer who recorded 58 receptions for 921 receiving yards and eleven receiving touchdowns this past Fall. Walker's arrival in Chapel Hill was a welcome sight for an offense that lost their top two pass catchers from 2022, Josh Downs and Antoine Green, who combined for 137 receptions, 1,827 receiving yards, and eighteen receiving touchdowns.

However, after being initially granted immediate eligibility as a part of the one-time transfer rule, the NCAA, to the surprise of many, revoked Walker's immediate eligibility on Tuesday, putting Tez's status for the South Carolina and the 2023 season in jeopardy. While it's unfortunate for the young man that he'll now likely have to go through a stupidly tedious appeals process to regain his eligibility, covering South Carolina, we must address the football side of things and how this affects the Gamecocks.

Tez Walker being unavailable for the week one matchup certainly gives the Gamecocks' secondary an even stronger edge on paper, as Marcellas Dial and the other defensive backs don't have any other wideout they must respect outside of potentially JJ Jones. Jones racked up 24 receptions for 434 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in 2022, but outside of him, no other Tar Heel could seriously threaten the Gamecocks in the deep passing game.

This would allow South Carolina's defensive staff to be more aggressive as far calling man and man-press coverage is concerned and, therefore, could enable the Gamecocks to put more attention towards the run game, an area where the defense has struggled in their first two years under Shane Beamer. There's still some time for this entire situation to flip back in Walker's favor, but if it doesn't, it could be a game-changer for South Carolina's defensive strategy in their week one matchup.

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