Julian Walker details Michigan visit, where things stand with South Carolina
It has been a busy 72 hours for Dutch Fork’s Julian Walker.
On Friday, the senior defensive end helped the Silver Foxes earn a spot in the Class 5A Division I championship game with a 30-10 win over Dorman. Walker had nine tackles and a fumble recovery as Dutch Fork advanced to its 10th straight state championship game.
Early Saturday morning, Walker and his mother boarded a plane for Ann Arbor, Michigan to go to the Michigan and Ohio State game that kicked off at noon. He and his mother attended the game and then spent the weekend in Michigan before arriving back in South Carolina on Monday.
Walker was back on the practice field Monday as the Silver Foxes geared up for Saturday’s state championship game against Summerville. Dutch Fork is going for its fourth title in a row.
“I’m ready to go to sleep,” Walker joked after practice.
This upcoming week is a big one for Walker in many ways. He will suit in his final high school game with the Silver Foxes on Saturday. He also will be signing his National Letter of Intent as the early signing period for football is Wednesday-Friday.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Walker has been committed to Michigan since July. But will he have a change of heart and sign with Shane Beamer and the in-state South Carolina Gamecocks?
Walker wasn’t tipping his hand either way.
“It is going to be exciting,” Walker said of signing day. “But honestly right now, I am focused on this championship. I want to bring this one back to Dutch Fork. This one particularly means a lot. I want to win with these guys one more time.”
Walker discussed his Michigan visit and the atmosphere for the game with the rival Buckeyes. Michigan jumped out to an early lead before Ohio State ended up winning, 27-9.
“It was great to get back down there and see everybody, the coaches and staff,” Walker said. “That was my first gameday visit there so it was nice to see the environment. It was 20-some degrees outside and snowing, but the fans packed the place and were in there. Michigan fought really hard, but it was a good Ohio State team they played.
“It was time to catch up and spend quality time with each other. That was one of the biggest points of emphasis.”
Another point of emphasis for Walker was having his mother with him. She didn’t go with him on his official visit over the summer. So, this trip was as much for her as it was for him.
“It was good to get her down there. She had a good time,” Walker said. “It was really cool to be there with her. We talked a lot about it on the way back home. It was a really, good experience for me to get back down there and to do that together.”
Walker will have the next two days to think about things and said he will spend Tuesday working talking things over with his family one final time. He is still working out the details for the signing ceremony. According to NCAA rules, coaches can’t contact prospects from Dec. 1-7 with the exception being three days of the early signing period from Dec. 3-5.
South Carolina has continued to make Walker, who will be an early enrollee at whichever school he picks, a priority before and after he committed to Michigan. He attended almost every USC home game this year and has a tie to the program with his father Jamil Walker, one of the Gamecocks’ assistant strength and conditioning coaches.
Walker isn’t the only player South Carolina is trying to flip before the early signing period. Others include Maryland commitment and edge rusher Zion Elee, Florida running back commitment Carsyn Baker, Northwestern (SC) High defensive back and Texas A&M commit Tamarion Watkins and West Forsyth (NC) DL PJ Dean, a Georgia commit.
Baker, Watkins and Dean all attended the Gamecocks’ game against Clemson this past weekend.
This story was originally published December 1, 2025 at 7:54 PM.
