CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina’s offense had modest hassle adjusting to date with out its manage two vast receivers, as Heisman Trophy candidate Drake Maye threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-17 victory over South Carolina.

However that didn’t store Maye from expressing frustration in regards to the NCAA’s ruling that averted switch Tez Walker from taking part in Saturday.

Maye wore Walker’s jersey — spun backwards to turn Walker’s title plate — when addressing media next the sport, and he mentioned the NCAA was once punishing a participant from reaching an entire life dream, all within the title of constructing a commentary.

“He lives five or 10 minutes from here, grew up in Charlotte,” mentioned Maye, who shared an emotional while with Walker coming off the garden next the win. “We love Tez. He’s an awesome dude, and it’s a shame what’s happened.”

Walker, a two-time switch who arrived at North Carolina in January, was once denied a waiver through the NCAA this summer time, and his enchantment was once denied latter Thursday — simply two days ahead of the sport.

North Carolina was once additionally with out launch slot receiver Nate McCollum, depart Maye with a receiving corps he hadn’t labored widely with all the way through fall camp and the month life of follow.

The verdict on Walker’s eligibility follows a pristine rule handed in January to restrict a couple of transfers through the similar participant previous to commencement. In Walker’s case, then again, his first switch from North Carolina Central got here in 2020 next that college canceled its season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and his 2nd switch from Kent Atmosphere to UNC came about ahead of the pristine rule was once handed.

A 2nd committee of representatives from Section I colleges will meet once more Thursday to create a last determination on Walker’s availability in 2023, and Maye mentioned he “hopes they’ll make the right decision.”

On Friday, North Carolina lecturer Mack Brown issued a harsh commentary vital of the NCAA’s ruling, and he mentioned he spent a lot of the life apprehensive about Walker’s psychological condition.

“He really didn’t handle it well during the week,” Brown mentioned of Walker. “He struggled during practice. I don’t know that he would’ve played well if he had played because there’s so much pressure on him.”

Brown mentioned Walker had greater than 30 community contributors attending the sport, together with his grandmother, who helped lift him.

North Carolina fan and nation track famous person Eric Church donned Walker’s jersey at the sideline all through the sport upcoming introduced Walker with a recreation ball within the storage room next the win.

Brown mentioned the dignity was once deserved, noting that Walker made some extent of rallying teammates at the sideline, together with fellow receiver Gavin Blackwell, who dropped two passes all through the sport.

“I was so pleased that he was talking to Gavin and saying, ‘Come on, man, you’re good,'” Brown mentioned.