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T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 1 8 >> P L A Y E R B I O S WHAT HE DID A four-year letterman and three-time team captain at North Point High, Walker anchored an o9en- sive line that led the Eagles to a 12-1 record in 2017 and the team's 7rst ap- pearance in the state semi7nals. North Point averaged 37 points per game dur- ing Walker's 7nal season. He also ex- celled on the defensive line, 7nishing with 63 tackles as a senior, including 11 sacks. As a junior, he had 35 tackles and four sacks. WHAT HE WON Walker is a member of the Rivals250, checking in at No. 65 overall. A four-star prospect, he's listed as the No. 2 player in Maryland and the No. 7 o9ensive tackle nationally. He was a 7rst-team USA Today All-State choice following his senior season and also claimed 7rst-team All-Met honors from The Washington Post. The year before, he was a second-team All-Met selection by the Post. Walker wrapped up his high school career in January with an appear- ance at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. WHERE HE VISITED Walker received 28 scholarship o9ers, with Penn State, Ohio State and Virginia Tech emerging as the leaders. He and his family hosted Urban Meyer and several Buckeyes assistants for a home visit on Jan. 31, and the next night they welcomed Penn State's James Franklin, Matt Limegrover and Tyler Bowen. Walker appeared to be genuinely con8icted until the very end. But he had spent more time with the Penn State coaches than any others, and those rela- tionships proved crucial. On Feb. 7, he became the lone player to join the Nit- tany Lions' class on the traditional sign- ing day, donning a Penn State ball cap during a signing ceremony at his school. "When you go to a place and you already feel comfortable and at home with peo- ple you already know, it's a bit easier mentally," Walker said. "That was a big factor." QUOTABLE Walker: "I feel like I have a really good opportunity up at Penn State and they can get me to where I need to be. It's a great school with great aca- demics and a great football team. I love the tradition and the area. I felt like that was the place for me." PHIL'S TAKE A:er watching Walker perform at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January, I understand why Ri- vals.com ranks him as the seventh-best o9ensive tackle in the Class of 2018. He has exceptional feet and is fully capable of playing the right or le: tackle posi- tions at Penn State. At 6-foot-6, he has the frame to carry 320 pounds. He al- ready has an excellent punch with his pass-blocking technique and can physi- cally dominate at the point of attack with his run blocking. Rated by everyone as the top o9ensive tackle prospect in the Washington, D.C./ Maryland area for the Class of 2018, Walker has the po- tential to become a three-year starter on Penn State's o9ensive line. If he stays healthy and physically develops into the kind of player he appears capable of be- coming, he will have a chance to play in the NFL. He reminds me of former Penn State o9ensive tackle Levi Brown com- ing out of high school. ■ ALL IN The sev- enth-ranked of- fensive tackle in the country, Walker became the final mem- ber of Penn State's class when he signed on Feb. 7. Photo by Tim Owen Rivals.com RASHEED WALKER RIVALS ★★★★ | POS OT | HT 6-6 | WT 295 | HOME Waldorf, Md. | SCHOOL North Point

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