Gamecocks battling for athlete J.R. Walker
April 17, 2018
Four-star athlete J.R. Walker won’t make a decision about his college football career until later this year. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound prospect from Elizabeth City, N.C., will graduate in December, so he’ll reach a conclusion at some point during his senior season at Northeastern High School.
For now, it’s a “tight race” between South Carolina and N.C. State. Virginia Tech is also in the mix, as is North Carolina, where he’s planning to visit this week.
The Gamecocks are recruiting him to play safety.
On Sunday, before The Opening stop in Charlotte, N.C., Walker detailed his interest in the top three schools.
“If it happens, it happens,” Walker said. “We don’t really talk about it like that. … It could happen.”
For Walker, there’s plenty to like about the Gamecocks.
“I just like [Muschamp’s] coaching style. He’s about his business,” Walker said. “He’s going to get his point across and the guys respect that a lot, from what I’ve seen in practice, so he’s a real respected coach. He’s a funny guy. I was talking to him while I was there, too.”
Assistant coach Kyle Krantz serves as Walker’s primary recruiter to South Carolina.
“Well, every day they tell me that I’m their guy [and] I’m a South Carolina guy,” Walker said. “That just means a lot to me, to know that a team thinks that I’m that guy and really wants me that bad.”
Walker is on track to graduate in December. He’ll consider a couple of factors as he moves closer to a decision.
“One would be the home feeling, how I bond with the coaches and my teammates,” he said. “No. 2, I want to major in physical education or business and marketing, so whichever one has the best in that.”
April 17, 2018
Four-star athlete J.R. Walker won’t make a decision about his college football career until later this year. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound prospect from Elizabeth City, N.C., will graduate in December, so he’ll reach a conclusion at some point during his senior season at Northeastern High School.
For now, it’s a “tight race” between South Carolina and N.C. State. Virginia Tech is also in the mix, as is North Carolina, where he’s planning to visit this week.
The Gamecocks are recruiting him to play safety.
On Sunday, before The Opening stop in Charlotte, N.C., Walker detailed his interest in the top three schools.
- South Carolina: “Most definitely [defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson]. I like his coaching philosophy. When I went down there the first time, I learned some of the stuff that they do and brought that back to the season. It helped me get better.”
- N.C. State: “Just the home feeling that they have. … Every time I got there, I just feel at home. That’s a big part.”
- Virginia Tech: “[Defensive coordinator Bud Foster], he’s a pretty cool coach. I just talked to him last week. He was telling me that he wants to get me down there. I haven’t been there in a while. He likes me and he wants me to come down there.”
- Walker plans to return to South Carolina and Virginia Tech later this summer. In March, he visited South Carolina with Traveon Freshwater, a 2019 4-star linebacker who also lists an offer from the Gamecocks.
“If it happens, it happens,” Walker said. “We don’t really talk about it like that. … It could happen.”
For Walker, there’s plenty to like about the Gamecocks.
“I just like [Muschamp’s] coaching style. He’s about his business,” Walker said. “He’s going to get his point across and the guys respect that a lot, from what I’ve seen in practice, so he’s a real respected coach. He’s a funny guy. I was talking to him while I was there, too.”
Assistant coach Kyle Krantz serves as Walker’s primary recruiter to South Carolina.
“Well, every day they tell me that I’m their guy [and] I’m a South Carolina guy,” Walker said. “That just means a lot to me, to know that a team thinks that I’m that guy and really wants me that bad.”
Walker is on track to graduate in December. He’ll consider a couple of factors as he moves closer to a decision.
“One would be the home feeling, how I bond with the coaches and my teammates,” he said. “No. 2, I want to major in physical education or business and marketing, so whichever one has the best in that.”
