While North Carolina wide receiver Tez Walker won’t play in the 2023 regular season, head coach Mack Brown on Monday outlined a scenario for the transfer to play for the Tar Heels in the postseason.

Brown said Walker, who the NCAA deemed ineligible for the 2023 regular season, could play in the College Football Playoff or in a bowl game with the team because either would take place after the fall semester is over.

“It wouldn’t cost him the year because he wouldn’t play in four games, but he could play,” Brown said of Walker.

According to Brown, Walker can’t play if the Tar Heels make the ACC Championship game on Dec. 2 since the university's final exams take place from Dec. 8-15.

Brown released a lengthy statement in early September, criticizing the NCAA's decision about Walker's eligibility, writing, "Shame on you, NCAA. SHAME ON YOU!"

Other WRAL Top Stories

On Sept. 12, the NCAA said it was working with law enforcement over "violent and possibly criminal threats" directed at committee members involved in eligibility decisions involving Walker.

"The DI Board is troubled by the public remarks made last week by some of the University of North Carolina leadership," it said.

Walker, who is a junior, transferred to North Carolina in the offseason. During the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Kent State, Walker had 63 receptions for 1,045 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Walker, from Charlotte, initially committed to East Tennessee State out of high school. However, he suffered a knee injury and enrolled at North Carolina Central University, whose 2020 football season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Jan. 11, after Walker had enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the NCAA Division I Council voted to tighten criteria for immediate eligibility waivers for undergraduate students who transfer a second time. The council includes a representative from each Division I conference and it voted unanimously. Multi-time transfers must demonstrate a personal need for medial or safety reasons to depart the previous school.

Brown has repeatedly said Walker should be considered a one-time transfer and eligible to play in the 2023 season.

Walker said he transferred to UNC to be closer to his ailing grandmother, who has never seen him play in person. Brown blasted the NCAA for its handling of the situation.

"I can’t begin to understand how this has happened," Brown's statement said. "The decision makers at the NCAA and on the committee should be ashamed of themselves for doing this to a young man.

"As has been clearly documented, Tez should be eligible for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the mental health issues he’s faced during his time in college. And with this decision, the NCAA has placed an unnecessary burden on him. He’s had a rough go of it and this will surely only make it worse. How dare they ever speak about mental health and student-athlete welfare again."

RB George Pettaway plans to redshirt

North Carolina sophomore running back George Pettaway intends to redshirt this season unless the team needs him to play, the team announced Monday.

Pettaway doesn’t have a carry this season, but returned two kickoffs for the Tar Heels. He also had one reception in the season-opening game against South Carolina.

“He and his father had talked to [running backs] coach [Larry] Porter, and I agree with him completely, he’s not getting a lot of significant snaps right now,” head coach Mack Brown said.

Brown said Pettaway could choose to play in a bowl game without impacting his redshirt status.

Players can redshirt if they play in four regular-season games or less. They can also play in a bowl game and not have it impact their redshirt status.

“Take the year to redshirt unless [there are] injuries or a need for him to play more,” Brown said of Pettaway.

When asked if Pettaway plans to enter the transfer portal, Brown said, “absolutely not.”

“He wants to stay,” Brown said of Pettaway. “He loves it here, but he wants to play.

“He’s going to go through the spring, meaning he’s going to stay.”

Pettaway had 20 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns in the 2022 season.

Brown said conversations with Pettaway and Pettaway’s father happened during North Carolina’s bye week.

“He was the only one that said, ‘I would like to redshirt, if possible,’” Brown said of Pettaway. “And if we had said, ‘No, you need to keep playing,’ he would have done that.”

Brown said Pettaway will continue practicing with the team.

North Carolina preps for Syracuse

North Carolina (4-0, 1-0 ACC) is preparing to play Syracuse (4-1, 0-1 ACC) at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The game airs on ESPN.

The Tar Heels are coming off a 41-24 road win against Pittsburgh on Sept. 23.

Meanwhile, Syracuse lost to Clemson 31-14 on Saturday at home.

“We’ve got to play our best,” Brown said. “It’s really not against Syracuse. It’s against our standard because we don’t know how the other team is going to play.”