In the world of recruiting, in 2015, it's virtually impossible for a highly-regarded prospect to avoid the glare/attention of the media. When you're the country's top-ranked running back and you commit to the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes at halftime of the national championship game seemingly out of the blue? You can expect that glare to get a bit brighter.
Welcome to the world as seen, and heard, by Kareem Walker. Monday morning, Walker and a high school coach of his made the eight hour drive from New Jersey to Columbus for a visit to Ohio State, a trip that – to Walker – signifies at least the temporary end of his recruitment. Now he's trying to turn his attention to winning a third straight state championship at De Paul Catholic High School.
"Right now, getting to camp for my team is the focus," Walker told Eleven Warriors late Wednesday night. "Recruiting is done with, and the Ohio State trip was the last visit of the summer. I have to focus on my squad and get them taken care of, to be a leader on my team. I haven't talked to anyone about official visits, even my next Ohio State trip isn't planned. I will worry about (official visits) if they come down the line, but I'm trying to threepeat; I'm not worried about recruiting anymore."
While that's not an outright denial that other school trips could happen, Walker's intentions are clear: he wants to move forward, get better, get to college and get to work. His latest visit to Ohio State helped him put to bed any outstanding questions and concerns he had about his role in the Buckeyes' future.
"The trip was perfect, really amazing and showed me a lot. They're telling me that I've got a chance to be the next (Ezekiel Elliott)," he said. "(Urban) Meyer told me 'You can't decommit, we need you next year' and that I can contribute a lot as a freshman, especially if I get there in January. When I got there I was hanging out with (running back coach Tony) Alford and we were drawing up plays on the chalkboard, and I think I surprised them with some of the stuff I know. They told me I'm more advanced than most of the other guys when they've been at this point. I'm at 210 pounds, they want me at 220, and I think if I get there in January, in their weight program and all that, I'll easily be 220 before spring ball."
The nearly two-day long visit put Walker in front of Meyer and Alford, but not many of his future teammates, most of whom are taking a few well-deserved days at home before Ohio State camp check-ins this Sunday.
The trip was perfect, really amazing and showed me a lot. They're telling me that I've got a chance to be the next (Ezekiel Elliott)...
"I had hoped to see (Buckeyes' freshman offensive lineman) Kevin Feder, but he wasn't there," Walker said of the New Jersey native. "On Tuesday I spent time with (Meyer) and got to watch him working with Braxton and some of the guys on wide receiver drills. I met one of the big guys from the '30 for 30' stuff ESPN does, he was from Jersey too, which was cool. Just talking to (Urban Meyer) was about what I need to. He told me to focus on my grades, don't worry about anything other than myself, that I shouldn't worry about what other schools are saying or offering me."
For Walker, the grades are an important part of the puzzle, especially as he's hoping – planning, even – to enroll at Ohio State early and arrive on campus in January.
"Coach will be checking in to make sure everything is on track," Walker said of Tony Alford. "I just have to keep my grades up, but I think it's going to happen. Our school doesn't really allow people to leave early, but I think I'm straight. The objective is to get this class I need done by August, then keep my grades up and graduate in December and be on campus in January. I should get there right when they're playing in the national championship, if they are."
For the Buckeyes to repeat as national champions, they'll need to find success in Glendale, Arizona, a few miles away from Arizona State, where Walker visited in July. That trip raised some eyebrows from Buckeye fans and media members alike, especially so when predictions on Walker's 247Sports.com crystal ball started flipping towards the Sun Devils.
The logic behind those predictions? One of the team doctors at De Paul Catholic, a mentor of the running back, was said to have some connections to the pitch-forked program and was working to bring Walker to the desert. That, according to Walker, isn't exactly the case.
"I don't know where that stuff came from," Walker said of the rumors around his mentor. "He never said anything like 'go to Arizona State,' at all. He just wants what is the best situation for me. If that's Ohio State, ASU, Rutgers or Alabama. Funny thing is that he's got a house out there in Phoenix but as far as I know he'd never been to the college before. He's not involved with their program; his first trip to their school was when I went and that was because I asked to go."
That kind of report is why Walker says he doesn't talk much to the media these days.
"There's a lot of stuff in the media lately that I don't understand," he said. "I don't know what's going on or where people get information. I don't do interviews really, I don't go do many camps, so I don't know how people can say who I like or don't. I haven't done any interviews."
One thing the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder mentioned was the recent decommitment of Terrell Hall, who he's gotten to know well through the recruiting process.
"I actually talked to Terrell when I was on campus," Walker said. "I respect his decision as a man, as a recruit. I know what he's going through, so I respect him. I know what it's like, people telling you what you should think or do but it's got to be your own choice and I know that."
I know what he's going through, so I respect him.– Kareem Walker on Terrell Hall
Walker won't deny that he's had questions. He won't deny that there's been moments he'd wondered if he's made the right choice. He's visited Auburn, Alabama, Rutgers and Arizona State since he made his decision in January, and it's not all just been for fun. There's questions and that's perfectly understandable when you're making the biggest decision of your young life.
Now, as he heads into his final season of high school football, he's got no plans to be anywhere but Ohio State.
"I know people are going to talk if I take visits but I'm not thinking about that right now, I will deal with that if it comes" Walker said. "Right now, I'm just saying to Buckeye fans 'don't panic,' and to the guys in our class, if you're committed, stay committed. You're with us or you're against us and that's how it's going to be."
