I'm assuming UM is in his top 3, who are the other two?
During the 2020 cycle, some of the top programs in the country recruited four-star defensive lineman
Zykeivous Walker, who signed with
Auburn. Now, his brother is in his shoes.
Ellaville (Ga.) Schley County five-star EDGE
Zayden Walker, who holds nearly 30 offers, visited
Florida on March 25 and the Tigers on March 27. Already in April, he has visited Auburn,
Florida State and
Georgia. He will be at
South Carolina this weekend, then at Alabama the following weekend, for spring games.
“He always told us that being recruited, always find a genuine commitment with the team and coaches,” Walker told On3 about his brother’s advice to him. “Always know how long the coaches have been there. It’s a lot to look into. He said don’t just look into the school you want to go to, just know what’s real from the fake.”
Even though his brother plays on The Plains, Auburn has an advantage for Walker’s commitment. Rather, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound pass rusher is focused on “what’s best for me.”
Walker also knows what will be important in his eventual decision.
“First of all, the staff, how long the staff is going to be there,” said Walker, the No. 5 overall prospect and No. 1 EDGE in the
2025 On300. “The teammates and the kind of people I will have around me and the place, what’s around. It’s not only the facility, but everything that’s around it.”
Walker likes Florida State, Miami and Georgia so far
One of the early contenders for Walker is Florida State. The five-star has already visited Tallahassee six times.
Multiple Seminoles coaches have interacted with Walker, including head coach
Mike Norvell and defensive coordinator
Adam Fuller. Walker believes that Norvell is “taking them up the ladder” and preparing Florida State for success in upcoming seasons.
“We’ve been connected all these months,” said Walker, who is also brothers with 2024 four-star athlete
Jalewis Solomon. “It really just feels like a home, it feels real comfortable. I’m comfortable with all the coaches.”
Miami is another Sunshine State program that is standing out to Walker. He likes how Hurricanes coaches are reaching out to him weekly through approved channels, since he cannot be directed by coaches as a sophomore.
Georgia also has the attention of Walker. He last visited Athens on Nov. 5 for the Bulldogs’ win over then-No. 1
Tennessee before watching the scrimmage over the weekend.
“I feel like
Kirby Smart is probably the most chill, most laid-back coach I’ve ever talked to,” Walker said. “I tell everybody that. He’s not gonna tell you everything that you want to hear, he’s not gonna try to boost you ahead. But people will tell you how he’s gonna be.”
“Athens is crazy,” he added about Georgia game days. “You can’t even move. They’ve got a real good fanbase. Then the players and how they work, it is different.”