Osceola 4-star Walker likes direction of Knights program after his visit
Three in-state schools are vying for Osceola 4-star defensive lineman John Walker, and that includes UCF.
The Knights hosted Walker and 10 other prospects for an official visits this past weekend.
“It went well,” he said. “I had fun with the coaches, had fun being with the players and looking more into the facilities. I live around here, so it was cool hanging out.”
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound prospect ranks as the No. 10 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 18 overall recruit in the state of Florida for the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.
Walker is also No. 4 on the Sentinel’s 2023 Central Florida Super60.
That’s why UCF defensive tackles coach Kenny Martin, Walker’s primary recruiter, has long made the Osceola product a priority.
“He’s a good coach,” Walker said about Martin. “We’ve been talking since my sophomore year. We’ll talk for hours on the phone and talk not just about football but other things. It’s cool talking with him.”
During his official visit, Walker had a chance to bond with UCF’s coaching staff.
“[I was] talking ball with the coaches and just seeing how they are outside of football,” Walker said.
In addition to Martin and the rest of Gus Malzahn’s staff, Walker spent time with redshirt junior defensive tackle Ricky Barber, who was tied for third on the team with three sacks last season.
“He’s a cool dude,” Walker said. “He’s real. I like him as a person. He’s honest with me. I had fun with him. We had a good time. He’s a good player and he said good things about coach Martin.”
Barber, who transferred to UCF from Western Kentucky after earning Freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of
America in 2020, offered advice to Walker about his recruitment.
“He was just saying, ‘Stay focused and do what you got to do and enjoy the process,’ ” Walker said.
Walker will travel to Michigan for an official visit this weekend before heading south to the University of Miami the weekend of June 17-19.
He’ll then head to Ohio State on June 24 for an official visit to end June. The Florida Gators will host Walker on Oct. 15 before he makes a verbal commitment Oct. 22.
While the Knights have tough competition, UCF does have a key advantage, and that’s location.
“It’s home. It’s my hometown,” Walker said.
In addition to location, the Knights could begin playing in the Big 12 Conference as early as 2023, which would be Walker’s freshman year.
“They’re doing some big things,” Walker said. “Big things are happening pretty soon. They’re having some big-time players and recruits coming here. By the time 2023 comes, things are going to change.”