Colorado and Penn State locked, Miami stop lining up for four-star LB Mantrez Walker
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The big hits and big plays are an every game occurrence for Mantrez Walker (6-1, 222). The four-star linebacker out of Buford High School (Ga.) is playing to the high level of expectations as the Wolves take on a difficult schedule to start the 2023 season. The spotlight is drawing extra attention, especially after opening his recruiting process up again on Sept. 11.
The 2025 linebacker updated the Wolves 4-0 start to their 2023 season, “The season going great. I am currently leading the team in tackles. I’m getting a lot of hard hits. In the St Franics game, I broke out with a bunch of tackles for a loss. The season is going great, each week we are getting better.”
Walker continued covering his play on the gridiron, “I am getting older, the game is slowing down. I’ve been hitting people, I’ve controlled the box, and I am getting better on the edge; I have been working from there some. Everything else is the same, I’m just getting better and better as I grow and develop.”
Teams have extended 30 scholarship opportunities to Walker with Alabama, Oregon, and Texas A&M watching his play on the field closely this fall.
The offering teams hitting Walker’s phone on a regular basis were listed, “Penn State, Miami, South Carolina, Louisville, Colorado for sure, Stanford, Tennessee, Florida, Purdue, and Boston College.”
On Sept. 9, Walker took a trip to Knoxville to see the Volunteers in action against Austin Peay.
“It was good,” Walker said. “They showed a lot of love. It was a good game, and I loved the atmosphere. They see me fitting in their scheme and they see me playing early; I like that about them.”
Two visits are locked in with two pending including a possible trip this weekend.
“Next Saturday I am going to Colorado (vs. USC) and I am going to Penn State on Oct. 28 (vs. Indiana),” Walker shared. “I might go to South Carolina this weekend (vs. Mississippi State). I might visit Miami on Oct. 7 (vs. Georgia Tech). For now, only the Penn State and Colorado visits are confirmed.”
When asked about the Buffaloes, the conversation is all about the leader on the sidelines, head coach Deion Sanders.
“Man, next Saturday I am excited to see everything Prime has to offer,” Walker stated. “They are telling me weekly that I can make an impact my freshman year there. I like what Prime is doing, he is bringing it to college football. College football is taking a turn, and he is the catalyst for that.”
On the possibility of heading to south Florida to meet up with the Hurricanes, Walker shared, “I love Miami. They reach out to me on a weekly basis, coach (Mario) Cristobal and coach D-Nick (Derek Nicholson – ILB). With their history, seeing them being successful this year is attracting me more. I can’t wait to visit.”
The love emanating out of Happy Valley to Buford can be felt by Walker.
“Penn State has always been good to me,” Walker said. “They have been rocking with me since the beginning. They were showing me interest even when I was committed to Michigan. If I didn’t commit to Michigan, I would have committed to Penn State. My parents didn’t get to go up there.
“It will be great to connect with the coaches again. I talk with coach (Manny) Diaz (DC). Cooper Cousins (2024 from PA) and T.A. Cunningham (2023 DL from GA) are reaching out to me. I have a close relationship with Penn State. They are LBU (Linebacker University), why not Penn State? They can produce my position.”
After rolling past St. Franics Academy (MD), Mallard Creek (NC), North Cobb, and Carver, Buford is at home on Friday to take on Marietta.
*Click the link for the July 6 RNG interview with Mantrez Walker.
**Photo credit: Buford High School