The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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22 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2023 BY CHRIS BALAS F or any typical human, being called a "freak" or an "alien" might be met with displeasure or pushback. For years, those words weren't used as anything but pe- joratives for those who might be deemed "different." Used to describe a football player, though, they mean something entirely different, as Amorion Walker found out when he first arrived on the Michigan campus. At 6-foot-3, now up to 195 pounds, he showed early he could do things most guys his size simply couldn't, moving in ways that defied the laws of … well, "normal" human physics. Those attributes have made him one of the most talked about players on the Michigan team this spring, and deserv- edly so, his coaches said starting from Week 1. Head coach Jim Harbaugh reported after two non-padded practices that he could confidently name Walker the "other starter" opposite sophomore Will Johnson … at least as of now. Several of the outgoing Michigan foot- ball players participating at the March 17 Pro Day, too, called him the guy they felt was most likely to break out this season. "Amorion Walker … pretty good," graduating punter Brad Robbins said. "He's getting a lot of hype right now, though, so I guess everybody's starting to know who he is. "But every time I come in here, whether it's like a week, two weeks, cou- ple of weeks, he looks huge … just bigger, stronger, faster. "This guy's going to be unreal. He's transitioning to defense and all that kind of stuff …" That "stuff" being a potential two- way player excelling at both cornerback and wide receiver. Though his playing time last year was limited and mainly on offense —1 catch for 4 yards in five games played with one game at corner — he's got all the tools to stand out on both sides of the ball. Harbaugh, blown away by his talent, was the first to call him part of the fresh- man receiving corps "freak show" with Darrius Clemons and Tyler Morris last year. The defensive coaches, though, al- ways had an eye on him, too. Secondary coach and co-defensive co- ordinator Steve Clinkscale believed he could be an outstanding cornerback, and he got to work with him last year. Grad student Mike Sainristil, another who made the move from wide receiver, said Walker opened eyes even then. "He has gifts that a lot of people don't," the Michigan captain said. "He's 6-foot-3, moves like he's 5-foot-10. He plays like he's 225. He's tall; he's lengthy. He runs a 4.2, 4.3 [40-yard dash]. "His skill set is rare." Dare say like Charles Woodson back in the day. And no, nobody is predicting Walker is going to be the next Michigan Heisman winner … only pointing out for comparison's sake that it's rare someone that size has that kind of ability. For now, Harbaugh said, it will be put on display on the defensive side of the ball. Sophomore Will Johnson is ready to dominate at the other corner position, but there's a question mark down the line from him. Walker is in position to be the answer. "We're mainly just playing him at cor- ner through the spring," Harbaugh said. "Once he gets that position locked down — which I really feel like he will — then eventually he will become a two-way player because he can also be a tremen- dous player as a receiver, score touch- downs. ONE OF A KIND Amorion Walker's Switch To Corner Is Already Being Praised Walker, who came in as a wide receiver last year, has switched his jersey to No. 1 and his position to cornerback. He could potentially be a two-way player for U-M as well. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY