In-state recruit with Gamecocks ties commits to Big Ten school over USC
Julian Walker is headed to the Big Ten instead of the Southeastern Conference.
On Tuesday, the four-star Dutch Fork defensive end picked Michigan over South Carolina, North Carolina and North Carolina State.
Walker is the son of South Carolina assistant strength coach Jamil Walker and made several visits to the Gamecocks over the past two years. He also was pursued by Michigan and took an official visit to the Wolverines last weekend.
Walker (6-foot-6, 252 pounds) also took official visits to UNC and NC State.
“Their academic plan and professional resources were elite,” Walker told The State about committing to Michigan. “To me those things were important because I want to be more than a football player.”
“They have an alumni base that’s locked in to the student body at Michigan. This game isn’t forever and I have always understood that. The academics definitely stood out as I looked past just playing football.”
247Sports Composite ranks Walker as a four-star prospect and No. 4 in SC for the Class of 2026, as well as the No. 197 player nationally.
Walker had a big junior season in helping the Silver Foxes to their third straight state championship. He had 50 tackles, 19 for loss and 11 sacks.
What about the South Carolina aspect?
His commitment to Michigan comes as a bit of a surprise, considering the Gamecocks heavily recruited Walker (who attends high school in Irmo, a short drive from Columbia) and his father’s job on Shane Beamer’s staff.
But Jamil Walker made it clear during the recruiting process that he did not want to put any pressure on his son to attend USC and has raved about Michigan.
“So many people thought that it was just a given for him to come” to South Carolina, Jamil Walker told Michigan’s On3 Sports site on Monday. “Julian has his own thoughts, Julian has his own dreams and Julian has his own things that he’s chasing.”
“He’s been with me every step of the way, and now he’s making his way. And I just think people have to understand that.”
The Wolverines also recently earned a commitment from Carter Meadows, a four-star 2026 edge rusher from Washington, D.C. and ranks top 100 nationally. Meadows was also a Gamecocks recruiting target.
Julian Walker said that he and Meadows are “tight” and they had talked about both playing at Michigan “a while back.” He added he really likes UM’s overall 2026 class.
As for picking against South Carolina?
“The SC thing is extremely hard and I knew it would be,” Julian Walker said.
The younger Walker said he got to be part of “everyday life” with South Carolina football since his dad works there and said the staff is “amazing at what they do.”
He raved about defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas (“my guy”) and sophomore defensive end Dylan Stewart (“like a big brother”). But charting his own path was important, the younger Walker told The State.
“I really don’t have the words to describe how hard this has been,” Julian Walker said of his recruiting process. “Not just on me, but my dad because I know it was tough for him to just play the dad role.”
“It’s hard to explain, but I’m happy with my decision and I hate that people felt that they lost because of my choice.”
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 1:40 PM.
