Drake Maye analyzes how Tez Walker's transition back into UNC offense has gone
Early this season, quarterback Drake Maye and the North Carolina Tar Heels had to find a way to succeed on offense without star wide receiver Tez Walker. Then, ahead of the Syracuse game, North Carolina got the news that Walker was cleared to play.
With that news, he has to transition back into the offense for the Tar Heels, which could have gone awkwardly but seemingly went pretty easily against Syracuse. Drake Maye spoke ahead of the game against Miami, sharing how the process of transitioning Walker back into the offense has gone.
“He makes it look smooth,” Drake Maye said. “We’ve got a lot of work, after practice still, even when he was ineligible, and kind of just getting back into the groove and getting him in there and having him and JJ [Jones] and those outside guys bounce playing different spots and adjusting to the news of having Tez back for full.”
Tez Walker wasn’t short on reps in practice this offseason. After all, North Carolina didn’t think it would become an issue to get him cleared, so the Tar Heels coaches worked hard to make sure he had adjusted to playing in a new offense.
“Got a lot of reps with Tez in the Spring. We feel like we haven’t lost anything over the Summer and into the Fall, when the season came I feel like we haven’t lost anything. Him and Marcus [Allen] over there, they went at it all Spring and I feel like he did a great job getting Marcus better and Marcus the same with Tez,” Maye said.
“So, just kind of the same mentality of all that work in the Spring is coming to pay off.”
In his first game back against Syracuse, Tez Walker had an impressive showing in a blowout win, snagging six receptions for 43 yards. He’ll look to build on that next week against Miami.
Mack Brown on Tez Walker making his debut
After the win against Syracuse, head coach Mack Brown shared his thoughts on Tez Walker’s debut.
“Really happy for Tez Walker that he got back on the field and I love the way our fans responded to him. Because the young man is living his dream and as of Thursday morning he didn’t think he’d ever get to play here this year. Except for a bowl game. So what an unbelievable night for him,” Brown said.
“And one that he’ll remember for the rest of his life, plus that catch he made over there in front of us was one of the best I’ve ever seen. To jump up with one hand, make the catch and keep his foot in, it was just a freakish play.”