NFL Draft

Devontez Walker is Making Up for Lost Time

Finally eligible to play for North Carolina, Walker is announcing his presence with authority.

Luke Easterling

Devontez Walker is Making Up for Lost Time
Devontez Walker is Making Up for Lost Time /
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It took way too long for the NCAA to actually allow him to play, but now that Devontez Walker is finally on the field for North Carolina, he's making the most of it.

A transfer from Kent State, Walker was finally ruled eligible prior to last week's game against Syracuse after being held out for the Tar Heels' previous games this season due to the NCAA's transfer waiver ruling.

He hit the ground running, catching six passes for 43 yards in a 40-7 victory, showing just a sliver of what was to come this weekend against Miami.

Walker delivered a breakout performance in a 41-31 win Saturday night against the Hurricanes, racking up 132 yards on six receptions, including a trio of touchdown catches from UNC quarterback Drake Maye:

The 2024 NFL Draft class is already loaded at wide receiver, with a long list of names already garnering first-round consideration (Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington's Rome Odunze, LSU's Malik Nabers, Florida State's Keon Coleman and more), but Walker's performance Saturday night should prove he's ready to crash that party, too.

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Luke Easterling
LUKE EASTERLING

Luke Easterling (he/him) has been covering college football and the NFL for more than two decades, with a particular focus on the nexus of both, the NFL Draft. Writing for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in sports media, Luke's experience and expertise in evaluating potential NFL prospects and evaluating team needs/fits has earned the appreciation of his readers, and the respect of his peers. Luke cut his sports journalism teeth at The Tampa Tribune before spending two years at Bleacher Report as a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke then spent nearly seven years at USA TODAY Sports Media Group as editor of Draft Wire and Bucs Wire, building both into authoritative destination sites for their respective audiences. Now at The Arena Group, Luke covers the NFL and college football for Athlon Sports, and runs Sports Illustrated's FanNation site for the NFL Draft. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Luke has been a featured guest on ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Fox Sports Radio, SiriusXM and more.  Based in Tampa, Florida (the true home of the Cuban sandwich), Luke plays the drums, loves 2000s pop-punk, watches way too many British murder mystery shows, and channels the energy of his deep-south Grammy and his full-Italian Nana in the kitchen. Twitter: @lukeeasterling Email: luke.easterling@si.com

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