Michigan football’s fall camp is now past the halfway mark, and while the defending national champions have been tight-lipped, sharing mostly vague statements and clichés, graduate transfer Wesley Walker has provided a fresh perspective. Walker, a seasoned defensive back with experience at Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee, is now joining Michigan’s secondary for his sixth season.
Walker, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety, committed to the Wolverines in mid-May during a hectic 72-hour period when defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan signed four defensive backs, including Albany’s Aamir Hall, UNLV’s Ricky Johnson, and Michigan State’s Jaden Mangham.
Martindale had informed his defensive unit at the end of spring about these new additions, especially after the indefinite loss of All-Big Ten safety Rod Moore due to a knee injury. Walker’s arrival is directly linked to Moore’s injury.
Walker admitted, “To be honest, if Rod (Moore) hadn’t gotten injured, I probably wouldn’t have come here. We play differently, but I’m eager to show my style and how I play.”
Despite Moore, now referred to as “coach Rod” and still involved in team meetings, being sidelined, Walker is tasked with building chemistry with safety Makari Paige. Over his two seasons at Tennessee, Walker started the first 10 games of 2023 before an injury ended his season. He finished with 53 tackles (3½ for loss), two pass breakups, a sack, and a forced fumble. In 2022, he had 33 tackles, including 5½ for a loss, and an interception.
Walker chose Michigan partly due to his previous connection with linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, who had previously coached at Tennessee. His visit to Ann Arbor and the opportunity presented to him made the decision clear.
“This is my final year, so I wanted a place that would offer the best transition for my career,” Walker said. “When I visited, it was an easy choice. The facilities, the access to maintaining my body, and the coaching staff’s transparency made it the right fit.”
Michigan is entering 2024 without All-American nickel Mike Sainristil, solid cornerback Josh Wallace, and Moore, leaving a significant void in their secondary. Nonetheless, the Wolverines’ secondary remains deep with All-American corner Will Johnson, Makari Paige, sixth-year DB Quinten Johnson, and the new portal additions. Players like Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, and Ja’Den McBurrows are also vying for key roles.
Walker, with 46 Power Five games of experience, brings a strong football IQ and a readiness to learn. “I’ve played over 2,000 snaps,” Walker said. “I bring experience, play quickly due to trusting what I see, and I’m eager to learn from my teammates and coaches.”
Walker is adjusting to Martindale’s defensive scheme, which has some differences from previous systems. He appreciates the complexity and variety Martindale’s defense offers compared to his past experiences.
Walker feels a strong sense of team unity at Michigan, noting, “I really feel like I’m part of the team.” The focus remains on the present and future, with little emphasis on last year’s national championship. “It’s all about football and improving,” he said. “There’s no time for distractions; it’s just about getting better.”
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