2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Devontez Walker, WR UNC
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Devontez Walker, a Wide Receiver from North Carolina. He is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and was not recruited out of West Charlotte High School.
In 2021, as a freshman, Walker appeared in 8 games for Kent State. During that season he recorded only 5 receptions for 124 receiving yards and 1 touchdown and was almost non-existent on the prospect radar.
He took a step forward as a sophomore in 2022 where he appeared in 12 games for Kent State on his way to hauling in 58 receptions for 921 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
After that breakout season, he transferred to North Carolina where his numbers took a step back. He recorded 41 catches for 699 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in 8 games for UNC and despite the slight dip in numbers, it should be seen as progression given the step-up in competition.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2021 | Kent State | MAC | FR | WR | 8 | 5 | 124 | 24.8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 124 | 24.8 | 1 | |
| 2022 | Kent State | MAC | SO | 12 | 58 | 921 | 15.9 | 11 | 3 | 29 | 9.7 | 1 | 61 | 950 | 15.6 | 12 | |
| *2023 | North Carolina | ACC | SO | WR | 8 | 41 | 699 | 17.0 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 7.7 | 0 | 44 | 722 | 16.4 | 7 |
| Career | Overall | 104 | 1744 | 16.8 | 19 | 6 | 52 | 8.7 | 1 | 110 | 1796 | 16.3 | 20 | ||||
| Kent State | 63 | 1045 | 16.6 | 12 | 3 | 29 | 9.7 | 1 | 66 | 1074 | 16.3 | 13 | |||||
| North Carolina | 41 | 699 | 17.0 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 7.7 | 0 | 44 | 722 | 16.4 | 7 | |||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Is great in catch-and-run situations with elite YAC ability.
- A natural playmaker who is elusive with the ball in his hands.
- He excels at taking the top off the defense.
- Is excellent with his short-area quickness and is explosive with great agility in the short to intermediate area of the field.
- Possesses elite straight-line speed that allows him quick and easy separation.
Weaknesses
- Is inconsistent at times in his route tree, especially on shorter routes.
- His route tree is exceptionally limited and he operates strictly on vertical routes.
- Needs refinement in his overall route-running technique.
- Must develop a more diverse route tree to avoid becoming a one-trick pony.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Mid-to-Late 2nd Round
Ideal Landing Spot: Kansas City Chiefs
Let’s face reality, the Chiefs are unlikely to appease the fantasy football community by drafting a wide receiver in the first round, but a second-round receiver is definitely in their wheelhouse.
Tez Walker is far from the top of the draft board in what looks to be a stacked wide receiver class, but he could easily be to the Chiefs in 2024 what Rashee Rice was in 2023.
While neither jumped off the page as a can’t-miss stud, both have the potential to be sneaky values in fantasy and could form an underrated duo in the Chief’s offense.
Be wary, if Walker does go to the Chiefs, his ADP will jump significantly in the 2024 Rookie Drafts. So tread lightly in that situation.
Post-Draft Analysis
Pick 4.113 to the Baltimore Ravens
Walker
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe video breakdown of Devontez Walker below.
