MGoFish: "Michigan likely to land RB Kareem Walker"

Submitted by Jim Harbaugh on

MGoFish had posted this update tonight from his OSU source:

“I’m 99.999% sure he is out for OSU”, the source said about Walker. It turns out this last visit and some other things have rubbed the Buckeye coaching staff the wrong way and that’s why they’re going all in on Wisconsin running back commit Antonio Williams (who the source believes will flip and join the OSU class in the not-so-distant future)."

"I’d be willing to bet (money) that he suits up in Maize & Blue for his first collegiate game.”

Obviously this isnt a lock, but good sign moving forward in his recruitment.

http://mgofish.com/ohio-state-source-michigan-is-the-favorite-to-land-k…

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Blue Know It

October 12th, 2015 at 11:52 PM ^

Which is why i kinda wonder why we are trying to flip Nordin (kicker). Especially if it's taking a scholarship spot. Best kicker in the country or not we have more pressing needs considering our LB depth and the fact that we got last year's #1 kicker. Kid's a beast, but I'm not so sure he's a top priority in my eyes.

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Avon Barksdale

October 13th, 2015 at 9:01 AM ^

We didn't get last year's #1 kicker. He wasn't even in the top 5. I don't really know where this idea came from on MGOBLOG that we got the nation's best kicker a year ago. We got a kid who was hitting 50% of his kicks in HS.

The only reason he got an offer is because he hit a few from 50+ yards and apparently looked good in private workouts.

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Hail Harbo

October 12th, 2015 at 11:22 PM ^

I can't think of many good reasons why rubbing the OSU staff the wrong means he'd rub the UM staff the right way.  The sole exception being his visit to Michigan, which yeah, that probably rubbed the OSU staff the wrong way.

Maybe he asked if the coaches that were recruting him would vanish in the dark the day after NSD.

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Scarlatina

October 13th, 2015 at 12:32 AM ^

When did they ever tell Kareem Walker that he'd be the only RB taken in this class? In fact, I'm pretty sure Kareem has even said that he's okay with being in a class with McCall and Hill. Probably because both those guys are going to be used more in a H-Back/Hybrid role like Braxton and Samuel this year or Dontre/Marshall last year.

Are you perhaps confusing him with Mike Weber saying that Harbaugh telling him that he was the only RB they wanted last year?

"I thought I was really the only back to get recruited in that class and when I heard (Higdon) was committed, it was like, 'Oh, well then there you go.'" Weber said. "That was the answer. That's what it was."

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Scarlatina

October 13th, 2015 at 1:53 AM ^

I'm just legitimately curious where OP got the idea that Urban told Walker he'd be the only RB taken this year. I don't think I've ever heard of Urban telling a recruit that, he's always been about taking as many "athletes" as he can and fitting them in some way in his offense... regardless of what they played in HS.

Also, at this point, I'm not really all that worried about Kareem Walker. Could Walker end up at Michigan? Sure. However, unless the above "source" is actually right and OSU has soured on Walker for some reason, I don't see why Walker would leave now. Walker has been committed since January, stuck through with the committments of two other highly-touted RBs, and told the coaches he plans to early enroll to have a better shot of competing for Zeke's vacant spot.

On the off chance that Walker does de-commit, RB isn't exactly a position of need for OSU right now. Next year they will have anywhere from 3-6 scholarship RBs: Bri'onte Dunn, Mike Weber, Warren Ball, DeMario McCall, George Hill and Kareem Walker. Dunn will probably be the early favorite to take over for Zeke based on seniority (+ being the current backup) with Weber close behind.

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Gr1mlock

October 12th, 2015 at 11:40 PM ^

On one hand, I'll believe it when we see the LOI. On the other, since this reinforces my desires and hopes, I am forced to assume this prognosticator is dead on and we'll be cheering for Walker for the next four years.



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BlockM

October 12th, 2015 at 11:43 PM ^

So, question. He looks like a great running back, but his film isn't quite as impressive as a number of other highlight reels I've seen... Is he ranked #1 because he's playing against much better competition than other guys? He doesn't seem to have break-away speed or a ton of tackle breaking going on.

Obviously I'd love to have him, but as someone who doesn't necessarily pick up on all the nuance of the RB position beyond "whoa, that guy is fast/huge/quick" I'm just curious what the hype is based on.

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wahooverine

October 13th, 2015 at 6:19 PM ^

That scouting report is spot on. His cutting ability is remarkable and his vision seems good. He dances through the defense. Tough to tell if he has power or toughness though, because you don't see tacklers getting good angles and hits on him. He doesn't get stopped in his tracks often. I definitely see this type of runner being good in Harbaughs running game.

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Mr.Jim

October 13th, 2015 at 4:41 AM ^

as the young man has excellent vision and great ability to make defenders miss. I'd have to say his running style - with the short-steps - reminds me a bit of former Ohio State running back Kieth Byars. I would take this young man in a heartbeat. Go Blue!

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