OSU RB commit Walker talks Michigan visit

Every college football fan knows that Ohio State and Michigan are bitter rivals. That's just one of the reasons why it was such a big deal when Buckeyes' five-star running back commit Kareem Walker took an official visit to Ann Arbor. The Wayne (N.J.) De Paul star has been committed to Ohio State since halftime of the National Championship game.

"When I first got out there it was still early," said the 6-foot, 208-pound Walker. "So we went to the hotel so (my teammate) Quayshon and I could get some sleep. The next day we went to the team breakfast, went over to the facility and watched the players go through walkthrough. That's when I met up with a few players that were there like Ahmir Mitchell and a few other guys. Then we all went over to the field. They let us come out on the 50-yard line while they were still warming up."

The Wolverines beat down a ranked Northwestern team by a score of 38-0 and Walker liked Michigan's offensive scheme.

"That was definitely an impressive win," he said. "It was basically the I-formation and pro-style. That's really what I run in high school. That's the main set with the two back, two wide receivers and one tight end. I really know the plays that they were calling and they were doing a good job of mixing it up letting the running back run, letting the fullback run and doing play action. I really knew the offense because of what I do now."

Walker's conversations with the coaching staff were important to him and they made their pitch very clear.

"Before I didn't really get to talk with the coaches or sit down for a one-on-one," Walker said. "They were in game mode so it was just them saying 'Hi' and 'How are you doing?' They were just showing their appreciation that I was there. They were still focused on the game at that point.

"After the game I got to talk to them," he said. "They brought all the recruits into one area where we could watch all the college games and eat. The coaches and their wives came out to talk to us.

"Coach Harbaugh's message to me was that I needed to come there and be a leader," said Walker. "He sees the scheme I'm in right now and he sees that it's the same scheme. He feels that I'd be a better back in the I-formation instead of the spread because of the type of back I am. He said that I need to come there and play early."

Last Friday night, right before Walker was scheduled to start his Michigan official visit, Wolverines running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley attended Walker's game against Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic.

"It means a lot," Walker said. "A lot of guys don't get interest from colleges so to be committed and still have other schools really interested in me even though they have another back in their class, I really appreciate that."

Two major connections Walker has to Michigan are former Paramus (N.J.) Paramus Catholic star Jabrill Peppers and Chris Partridge, Paramus Catholic's former head coach and now an assistant on the Michigan staff.

"I talk to coach Partidge a lot too," said Walker. "Him and Jabrill, that's part of the reason I took the visit. They played a big part in the visit. I was actually with Jabrill when I was down there. It was good. His message to me was really that I need to come there with him. He knows what kind of backs they have there and he knows what I'm capable of doing. He knows that, if I were to come there, he could get something out of me that another player couldn't at a different college, helping me work hard in practice and just being more of a leader like him right now. He definitely wants me to come there."

Walker made it very clear that he is still committed to Ohio State but will likely take the rest of his official visits.

"I don't have official dates yet," he said. "I think Ole Miss, Alabama, Ohio State and probably Arizona State. That's a possibility right now.

Walker is an Under Armour All-American and participated in the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour this summer.

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