Gamecocks stay in pursuit of hometown recruit, Michigan commitment
South Carolina football hasn’t stopped recruiting Julian Walker despite his commitment to Michigan.
The Dutch Fork High defensive end said Thursday night the Gamecocks are one of the schools that continue to show interest in him. South Carolina defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas continues to communicate with the four-star prospect.
South Carolina was one of Walker’s four finalists (N.C. State and North Carolina were the others) when he committed to the Wolverines on July 1. Walker has a tie to USC, with his father, Jamil Walker, being the Gamecocks’ assistant strength coach.
“Right now, Coach Lucas is making it clear he still wants to recruit me. … He is still keeping a strong connection and checking up on me,” Walker said after the Silver Foxes played in a four-team scrimmage at Blythewood High School. “That means a lot to me.”
Walker said other schools that continue to reach out include N.C. State, UNC, Tennessee and Florida State. He remains firmly committed to the Wolverines and discussed what drew him to commit to the Big Ten program.
“They amazed me football-wise and life outside of football,” Walker said of Michigan. “You are definitely going to have to stop playing [football] some time and they set up a plan for when you are done.”
Still, it is very common for schools to continue to recruit a player even after they announce their commitment to another college. Walker and other high school football seniors can’t sign with their schools until Dec. 3.
The Gamecocks have had some success flipping players’ choices. Receiver Malik Clark, a freshman on this year’s team, is an example of that.
Clark, who played at Rock Hill High School, committed to Florida State on July 25, 2024 but ended up signing with the Gamecocks last December.
Walker didn’t know if he would visit any schools in the fall for games. He took official visits to his final schools in the spring and summer.
He’s coming off a big junior season and was playing his best during the Silver Foxes’ postseason run in winning the program’s third-straight state championship. He finished the year with 50 tackles (19 for loss), tied for the team lead with 11 sacks and had five quarterback pressures.
The senior had two sacks each in the Silver Foxes’ semifinal game against Spartanburg and state championship game against Summerville.
“I’m still trying to work on my craft and get better every day,” Walker said. “That is what I am focusing on. Working on anything I can to get better. I need to stay consistent and not take any plays off, run to the ball.
“You see it on our team: We are playing extremely dominant offense and defense.”
Walker is sure to face more double teams and attention this season but will have even more help on the defensive line this year with the addition of junior Jaden Wuerth, who moved in after playing in Aquinas High in Augusta, Georgia. Wuerth is a two-time all-state selection and a Division I prospect.
The two took turns rotating at right and left defensive end in Thursday’s scrimmage against Blythewood, Catawba Ridge and North Augusta. They were in the backfield on numerous occasions and did a good job stopping the run.
“Defense starts with Walker and Wuerth,” Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts said. “When they were in, they were pretty dominant. … Julian and Wuerth put a lot of pressure on them for the most part tonight.”
This story was originally published August 9, 2025 at 7:40 AM.
