North Carolina junior wide receiver Devontez "Tez" Walker's waiver for immediate eligibility has been denied by the NCAA, potentially leaving the Tar Heels without a preseason All-ACC performer on offense.

UNC is appealing the decision, football coach Mack Brown announced after practice on Tuesday.

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"Tez has only played football at one school and should be considered a one-time transfer," Brown said.

The NCAA passed stricter rules on two-time transfers for undergraduates in January and made it effective for the 2023-24 season.

UNC argued that Walker should be considered a first-time transfer and be immediately eligible. The NCAA rules state waiver will be considered for athletes related to their physical or mental health and well being.

Walker initially signed with East Tennessee State University in 2019, but after an ACL tear, his signing was deferred. He signed with North Carolina Central University in 2020, but the season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Walker transferred to Kent State, where he played 20 games, starting 12 of them. In 2022, Walker finished with 58 catches for 921 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. He transferred to UNC in January.

He was expected to have play a large role in the UNC offense, replacing NFL pick Josh Downs as a top target of quarterback Drake Maye.

Walker said he transferred to be closer to his ailing grandmother, who lives in Charlotte and has never seen him play in college. UNC, ranked 20th in the coaches' preseason poll, opens its season against South Carolina in Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 2.

"She is my rock, my everything, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her," Walker said in a lengthy statement. "She took care of me when I was younger and being away from her and the rest of my family was very challenging and hard to deal with. It’s meant the world to us to be in the same area, where she’s just a short drive away and I have far more opportunities to be with her."

Walker said the experience of not knowing his eligibility status has been difficult on him and his family.

"This should be one of the happiest times of my life, and instead, I don’t know what’s going to happen and I’m struggling with all of it," Walker said.

UNC made the situation public Tuesday, in part, Brown said, to help Walker.

"He's really struggling, and that's why we're coming out and saying this," Brown said. "He's been down, here he is, 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 four weeks from game time, just waiting to see if he's going to play."

Brown added that the program feels "very, very good" that the NCAA will review the case, see that it's not a standard two-time transfer situation and accept UNC's appeal for immediate eligibility. However, there is no timeline for when a decision will be made.

UNC was picked to finish third in the ACC in the preseason. Walker was named to the 2023 Biletnikoff Award watch list. The award is given to the top pass catcher in college football.

"I want this to be over," he said. "I want to stop feeling like this. I just want to play. I want my grandmother to come watch me. I want to be a student and an athlete and I hope those in charge give me that opportunity."