The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/629217
COMMITMENT PROFILE ning back and No. 181 overall player nationally — was an Under Armour All-American and an NJ.com All-Di- visions All-State performer after a se- nior year that saw him rush for 1,517 yards and 13 touchdowns on 215 car- ries (7.1 yards per touch). He was also all-state following an even more impressive junior cam- paign, when he ran 199 times for 1,607 yards (8.1 yards per carry) with 26 scores. In both seasons, he managed to capture the ultimate prize: a state title in New Jersey's Non-Public divi- sion. It's the diminishing returns during his senior campaign that have some analysts worried that he may have peaked too early in his athletic ca- reer. He's still a very talented runner and, after enrolling early, a member of U-M's football squad able to go through spring practice before he ever plays a down. However, Rivals.com national re- cruiting analyst Adam Gorney said Walker 's performance at the Under Armour All-America Game Jan. 2 in Orlando, Fla. — in which he rushed seven times for 18 yards behind a po- rous offensive line for Team Armour in a 27-0 defeat to Team Highlight — shows that he needs to work his way back into the player he was as an underclassman. "The four-star needs to hit the open- ing faster and then fall forward when getting tackled," Gorney opined. "Sometimes, the Michigan commit hesitates as things develop and partly because of him and partly because of some offensive line miscues, Walker was dragged down in the backfield too often."