One of the most intriguing stories during the early part of the 2023 college football season was that of North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker, who was deemed ineligible to play due to some irregularity with his transfer from Kent State to UNC. Walker, who was considered among the best receivers in the country, eventually was able to step on the field and showcase his talent.
Walker managed 699 receiving yards and seven touchdowns across the eight games he did play, so he was clearly on pace to have a massive season had he played the full campaign. He did benefit from having Drake Maye as his quarterback and did put up some big numbers against soft defenses but his exploits against Miami and Duke will be fondly remembered by UNC fans.
Devontez Walker: Scouting Report
The speed jumps out right away when you watch Walker, and his 40-yard dash time was confirmation of that. He’s a home run threat from Day 1, and has the ability to separate from coverage down the field like few others. There are some concerns about whether he can make an impact on shorter and intermediate routes but the skills are there for him to grow into becoming an all-around receiver. For now, he’s more of a deep-ball threat as a second or third option.
Mock Draft landing spots
Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates have the Patriots taking Walker in the third round. He’s projected to be a third-round pick at NFL.com. The Patriots are in need of receiving help and could potentially be pairing Walker with his college teammate Maye depending on what New England does in the first round. The Panthers, who have some crossover with UNC fans familiar with Walker, could also be a landing spot in the later rounds.
Fantasy football implications
Any time you have a player like Walker who can hit the deep touchdown, he has some buzz in fantasy football circles. It’ll be important to see where he lands since he’ll need a quarterback with a strong arm and a coach willing to take risks to have enough opportunities. If you’re someone who likes taking a flier on some rookie receivers and misses out on some of the top options, Walker could be worth rostering to see what his role is before making a long-term decision on whether to keep him or not.