With School Soccer Drama Behind Him, Devontez Walker Keen To Present His Expertise With Baltimore

OWINGS MILLS, Md.: There was some extent final season when Devontez Walker, sidelined amid a contentious dispute with the NCAA, was weighing some disagreeable choices.

“I believed my season was completed, actually. I used to be on the scout staff, I used to be considering, I used to be simply attempting to work on my craft. The entire 12 months, I had no concept that I used to be going to play in any respect,” Walker stated. “I used to be 50-50 on declaring for the draft.”

It might have been a threat to declare for the draft after lacking a complete season, and Walker suspects that ultimately, he in all probability would have stayed at North Carolina, however in the end he didn’t have to fret about it. Walker was ultimately cleared to play for the Tar Heels, and after eight productive video games, he entered the draft and was picked within the fourth spherical by the Baltimore Ravens.

Walker’s faculty profession was a little bit of an odyssey. He was initially going to play at East Tennessee State, however he injured his knee and deferred enrollment. He ended up going to North Carolina Central, however the Eagles didn’t play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Walker lastly performed two seasons at Kent State, however after he transferred to North Carolina, the NCAA initially denied him fast eligibility, treating him as a two-time switch.

That wasn’t the tip of it, nonetheless. Tar Heels coach Mack Brown launched an unusually strident assertion excoriating the choice, and the NCAA Board of Administrators stated committee members obtained threats of violence. The NCAA ultimately reversed course and granted Walker’s waiver in early October.

Now NCAA athletes can play instantly irrespective of what number of occasions they switch. The Division I Board of Administrators ratified that change final month, after a federal choose had issued an injunction to that impact.

Walker now not has to fret concerning the quickly altering panorama of school athletics. He caught 41 passes for 699 yards and 7 touchdowns at North Carolina, and now he’s the most recent receiver drafted by the Ravens to be a possible playmaker for star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

“Simply listening to that an NFL staff values your ability set and also you as an individual, it simply makes you are feeling good,” Walker stated final weekend at rookie camp. “It was only a nice feeling. Now, being right here, I nonetheless have that very same feeling, and I’m having fun with each little second that I’ve right here, so it’s been actually good.”

Baltimore has drafted not less than one extensive receiver in six of the previous seven years, together with Zay Flowers within the first spherical in 2023. This 12 months the Ravens took cornerback Nate Wiggins within the first spherical. The Clemson standout confirmed off his pace on the NFL scouting mix by working the 40-yard sprint in 4.28 seconds. However Walker wasn’t far behind at 4.36 seconds.

“Undoubtedly vertical menace, actually any vertical route — like these crossers, posts or go balls — that’s one thing I carry to this league,” Walker stated. “My ability set, I really feel like I can do a extremely good job getting over prime of any protection. The factor I’m attempting to work on is beneath routes, like these routes 20 yards and beneath. Getting open in these kinds of areas and issues like that, that’s one thing I’ve been engaged on.”

Flowers is coming off a powerful rookie season, and the Ravens have one other former first-round choose in receiver Rashod Bateman — to not point out a loaded tight finish group. However with Odell Beckham Jr. now not with Baltimore, there’s room for Walker to step in and make an affect if he’s succesful.

“You knew he was going to be massive and quick. He confirmed that,” coach John Harbaugh stated. “I used to be impressed with how nicely he moved altering course. I didn’t know if he was going to vary course fairly in addition to he did. … Caught the ball rather well. He’s off to an important begin.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Related Press)