Devontez Walker

Devontez Walker
No. 81 – Baltimore Ravens
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2001-06-19) June 19, 2001 (age 23)
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:198 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High school:West Charlotte (Charlotte)
College:
NFL draft:2024 / round: 4 / pick: 113
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:21
Touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Devontez "Tez" Walker (born June 19, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kent State and North Carolina.

Early life

Walker was born on June 19, 2001, in Charlotte, North Carolina, later attending West Charlotte High School.[1] In Walker's high school career, he brought in 48 receptions for 923 yards and 2 touchdowns. Walker also played on defense racking up 36 tackles, ten pass deflections, and six interceptions.[2] Walker committed to play college football at North Carolina Central.[3]

College career

North Carolina Central

Enrolling at North Carolina Central in 2020, Walker did not play in any games as the FCS season had been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Kent State

Walker transferred to Kent State in 2021.[5] He made his collegiate debut in week one of the 2021 season, where he caught one pass for three yards, as Kent State was defeated by #6 Texas A&M 41–10.[6] In the team's bowl game, Walker caught one pass for 74 yards and a touchdown in Kent State's Golden Flashes' 52–38 loss against Wyoming.[7] Walker finished the 2021 season with five receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.[8]

The 2022 season was a strong one for Walker. Against reigning national champions Georgia, Walker had one of the best performances of his career, with seven receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown, but Kent State lost to the Bulldogs 39–22.[9] Walker had good performances the following two weeks, catching six passes for 107 yards against Ohio,[10] and 11 receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Miami (OH), 27–24.[11][12] In the team's season finale, Walker scored the game-winning touchdown, catching five passes for 84 yards, as Kent State ended the season with a win against Buffalo.[13][14]

Walker finished his 2022 season with 58 receptions for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also adding 29 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and was named first team All-MAC.[15][16][17]

Following the conclusion of the season and departure of head coach Sean Lewis, Walker entered the transfer portal.[18]

North Carolina

After departing Kent State, Walker returned to his home state, transferring to North Carolina.[19][20] Walker was named to the 2023 Preseason All ACC Team.[21][22] In a controversial and highly criticized decision, the NCAA ruled Walker a two-time transfer, and he was initially denied eligibility for 2023.[23][24] After missing four games due to the issue, Walker's eligibility was reinstated for the remainder of the 2023 season.[25]

Walker returned to action against Syracuse and played in eight games, catching 41 passes for 699 yards and seven touchdowns. He caught six passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns in his second game back against Miami.[26] Walker declared for the NFL draft after the conclusion of the regular season, opting out of the Duke's Mayo Bowl in the process.[27]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 1+1⁄2 in
(1.87 m) 		193 lb
(88 kg) 		33+1⁄4 in
(0.84 m) 		9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.36 s 1.54 s 2.52 s 4.30 s 40.5 in
(1.03 m)		 11 ft 2 in
(3.40 m)
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[28][29]

Walker was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round, 113th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft.[30] The Ravens acquired the pick in a trade that sent Morgan Moses to the New York Jets.[31] On December 15, 2024, in a Week 15 game against the New York Giants, Walker caught his first NFL career reception and touchdown after Lamar Jackson threw a 21-yard pass on 3rd down. The Ravens would later defeat the Giants 35-14.[32]

References

  1. ^ "Devontez Walker, WR North Carolina". dynastyleaguefootball.com. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "Devontez Walker's Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "Devontez Walker, North Carolina Central, Wide Receiver". 247Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Devontez Walker". Kent State University Athletics. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "2021 College football Transfer Portal". 247Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "O'Neal has 2 interceptions, No. 6 Texas A&M routs Kent State". CBS Sports. Associated Press. September 5, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Thorburn, Ryan (December 21, 2021). "Levi Williams leads Wyoming to Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory over Kent State". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "Dovontez Walker 2021 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "No. 1 Georgia could be falling after 39-22 win over Kent St". CBSSports.com. Associated Press. September 25, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "Kent State tops Ohio in overtime 31-24". CBSSports.com. Associated Press. October 1, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  11. ^ "Miami (OH) blunts late Kent St. rally in 27-24 win". CBSSports.com. Associated Press. October 8, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  12. ^ "Miami (OH) blunts late Kent St. rally in 27-24 win". AP News. October 8, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  13. ^ "Kent State rallies to beat Buffalo 30-27 in OT". The Toronto Star. Associated Press. November 26, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "Kent State rallies to beat Buffalo 30-27 in OT". CBSSports.com. Associated Press. November 26, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  15. ^ "Devontez Walker 2022 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  16. ^ Thomas, George M. (November 30, 2022). "Akron football linebacker Bubba Arslanian, Kent State receiver Dante Cephas honored by MAC". Akron Beacon-Journal. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "MAC Announces 2022 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams". Get Some Maction. December 29, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  18. ^ Olson, Max (December 9, 2022). "Kent State WR Devontez Walker has entered the portal". The Athletic. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  19. ^ Baucom, Bryant (December 21, 2022). "Kent State transfer Devontez Walker commits to UNC". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  20. ^ Callahan, Don (December 21, 2022). "Transfer WR Devontez Walker Commits to UNC". 247Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  21. ^ "Clemson Leads With Seven on All-ACC Preseason Team; UNC's Maye Projected as POTY". Atlantic Coast Conference. August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  22. ^ Treash, Anthony (July 17, 2023). "2023 Preseason All-ACC Team: QB Drake Maye leads the first team offense". PFF. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  23. ^ Beard, Aaron (September 7, 2023). "UNC says the NCAA has denied appeal efforts for Walker's immediate eligibility". AP News. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  24. ^ Adelson, Andrea (September 7, 2023). "UNC WR Walker denied appeal, ineligible for '23". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  25. ^ Cooper, Sam (October 5, 2023). "North Carolina WR Tez Walker ruled eligible after NCAA receives 'new information' from UNC". sports.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Backus, Will (October 15, 2023). "North Carolina WR Tez Walker goes off against Miami, scores first TD since NCAA eligibility reversal". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  27. ^ Holloway, Jeremiah (December 8, 2023). "Tez Walker Will Enter 2024 NFL Draft, Opt Out of Mayo Bowl". InsideCarolina.com. 247 Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  28. ^ "Devontez Walker Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  29. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Devontez Walker College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  30. ^ Phoenix, Kyle (April 27, 2024). "Ravens Draft Results 2024: Ravens select Devontez Walker with the No. 113 pick in Round 4". Baltimore Beatdown. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  31. ^ Mink, Ryan (March 13, 2024). "Ravens Trade Morgan Moses to Jets". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  32. ^ "Devontez Walker, Other Ravens Reserves Savor Their Opportunities vs. Giants". www.baltimoreravens.com. Retrieved December 16, 2024.