In the end, being close to home and to family was too much for Dutch Fork DE Julian Walker (6-6 265) to walk away from. After months as a Michigan commitment, and after months of pursuit by South Carolina, Walker decided the grass in the backyard was just as green as in the Big House (which actually has an artificial surface), and he signed with the Gamecocks Thursday morning.
“My heart felt like I wanted to be….I believe that we can build here at Carolina,” Walker said to reporters following his announcement. “I believe the guys we are bringing in are the right guys to build it. That’s played a factor. I’m ready to get to work. I’m ready. to start building. I’m ready to show the state what this young class, this new class, can do.
“Watching them play, it’s a scheme, it’s a defense, that I fell in love with. I love the way they play the game. I love the way their defense plays the game. Their D-line, with Sterling (Lucas) and Travian (Robertson) there, I feel comfortable. I feel I can affect that defense and that D-line quickly.”
Walker has been around the USC program a lot over the past couple of seasons. His father is a member of the strength and conditioning staff; thus, he practically has his own key to Williams-Brice Stadium. He was at almost every home game this season despite his commitment to Michigan stretching back to July.
North Carolina tried hard to crash the party at the end. Tar Heel head coach Bill Belichick talked to Walker on the phone on Wednesday. All three schools no doubt made strong NIL package offers to the Walker family.
Because of his access, Walker has seen a lot of the behind-the-scenes work being done by Shane Beamer as he tries to build a winner in the SEC. In an interview earlier this year, Walker said he was impressed by Beamer’s efforts.
“Beamer is building a great culture over there,” Walker said. “Being able to see them in the weight room and meetings, every time I walk in the building, there’s lots of love from everybody in there. He’s building a great team at South Carolina. It’s been a pleasure to see that growth from the first year I was here to the second year. He’s building a great thing over there at South Carolina.”
USC defensive line coach Travian Robertson and defensive end coach Sterling Lucas know they have a special talent now to work with in Walker. In the same interview, Walker said coaches see him as someone who could play up and down the line.
“Everybody is open-minded to me playing both inside and outside,” he said. “Usually when I talk to coaches, they are like, we like the relentlessness you play with, the passion you play with, the physicality, and the way you move. The urgency of the game, and I appreciate that from them. There’s only one way to play the game, and that’s the right way, and that’s what my father preaches to me at home every day.”
Walker will play for another state championship on Saturday night.