Miami visit upcoming for Michigan four-star LB commit Mantrez Walker
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWright
A Feb. 11 verbal commitment to the Michigan Wolverines has not detoured other college football programs from coming after Mantrez Walker. The four-star linebacker out of Georgia’s Buford High School continues to receive offers, phone calls, and campus invites while still solid with the national powerhouse. Three visits have been taken this offseason, including one to Ann Arbor, with a key trip to Florida scheduled before the end of the summer.
Before the Wolves begin their 7A schedule against top Peach State competition, Walker is refining his skillset on the field.
“I am working on guarding people out of the backfield, I’m working on that in practice, reading hips, keeping our eyes down low, and I’m working on making plays in the open field,” Walker said. “I’ve been working on all that in practice.”
The goals for the upcoming season are straightforward for Walker.
“For the 2023 season, I want to, of course, win a state championship, be named All-State and All-Region, receive both All-American game invites, go to the All-American game and win some awards,” Walker stated.
With recruiting, a wide span of teams is in regular contact with the defender.
“Michigan State, Tennessee, LSU, Stanford, Miami, Florida, Notre Dame, Clemson, and of course Michigan,” Walker shared.
The phone calls and text messages have been effective piquing Walker’s interest for on-campus visits.
“This offseason I have been to Ole Miss, LSU, and I went to Michigan on my birthday at the beginning of June,” Walker said. “At the end of the month I plan on going to Miami.”
Mantrez Walker at Michigan.
Walker shared details from his time in Oxford.
“Ole Miss was pretty good,” Walker stated. “The coaches are really cool. Their linebackers coach, coach (Pete) Golding (DC), came from Alabama; he’s really good. He has a good defensive scheme. They were breaking down everything and showed me how they would use me.”
The Tigers impressed the Walker family in Baton Rouge.
“That was a good visit,” Walker shared. “They laid it all out. My family liked it. They took us around campus. Bobby Barham (assistant dir. of recruiting) kept it real and spoke about all that LSU has to offer. They asked me if you are open to being recruited; I said yes. They said they are going to recruit the heck out of me and watch me develop.”
The interest in checking out Miami was covered.
“I’m pretty excited, they have wanted me down there for a while,” Walker said. “Their coaches have come by for our spring game and to our practices. They came after they offered, and their staff has stayed in contact with me. They want to show me what it is like down there, they want me to meet the coaches, and they want me to see what they have to offer.”
Walker continued covering the growing rapport with the Hurricanes’ coaching staff, “The relationship is pretty good. Their linebackers coach, coach (Derek) Nicholson, is very relatable. They get some of their players to talk to me. Matt Goode texts me about the Miami legends like Ray Lewis, and how they will be back being great again.”
During the season, a trip to the west coast is shaping up.
“I want to get out to Stanford for a visit during the season for a game,” Walker stated. “Hopefully I will get to Michigan for the Ohio State game.”
With all that is coming at Walker from challenging programs, he is still a Michigan commit.
“The Michigan relationship is very good,” Walker shared. “We talk every week. They show love and they keep me locked in. I am helping develop the 2025 class. They break down the defense for me based on how our defense (Buford) relates to theirs; I would fit in perfectly. Our relationship is solid.”
Following up on helping recruit others, Walker gave, “Yes, I am helping recruit a couple of guys. There are a couple of guys on my team and the best 2025 quarterback in the nation Bryce Underwood. There is a receiver from California who is interested, he just dropped Michigan in his top-seven, DJ Pickett, and Ethan Utley just dropped Michigan in his top schools.”
Walker has a message to other prospects, “At Michigan, there is the development factor, they will develop you to the next level, tradition, and they will keep it real with you. Guys from down south can play up there in a good environment.”