Lincoln East lineman Chris Walker gives Huskers commit No. 17
The Nebraska football team continued their run in recruiting this weekend by picking up a verbal commitment from Lincoln (Neb.) East offensive tackle prospect Chris Walker.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Walker was a commit to Wyoming since early November, but when he got an offer from Nebraska on Jan. 6, that obviously changed things. Walker took his official visit to Lincoln this weekend, and said he's now officially a Husker. He becomes the 17th known member of NU's 2017 recruiting class.
“Obviously getting the scholarship last Friday really changed things,” Walker said. “I love Wyoming, the coaching staff and the players. I have nothing but good things to say about them.
“However, as a kid it was my dream all along to play for Nebraska. I informed Wyoming of that and officially committed to Nebraska this weekend.”
The biggest thing Walker wanted to do this weekend is get a chance to meet and talk with the Husker coaching staff in person.
Before this weekend, Walker didn't get much of a chance to talk with offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh and head coach Mike Riley. He did visit three games as an unofficial visitor this season and he attended one of Nebraska's camps this summer.
“Coach (Cavanaugh) definitely sees me fitting in at offensive tackle, even though Coach Riley said initially they wanted me as an athlete,” Walker said. “He said though if I don’t feel comfortable at tackle I can move to guard or wherever I’m most comfortable.”
When Walker committed to the Husker staff on Sunday morning, he said one of the first people he called and informed was his lifelong friend and mentor Bill Janssen, who played offensive tackle for both the Huskers 1970 and 1971 national title teams and was the captain of the 1972 Husker team, which was Bob Devaney's last season.
Janssen is a friend of Walker's grandfather and grew up around him. Walker will wear No. 55 in honor of Janssen, and that's something Riley guaranteed him this weekend on the visit.
"He was my grandfather's best friend," Walker said of Janssen. "I look at him as a grandfather as well. Him and my grandfather took me hunting the first time. When I first started playing football he worked with me. He was real, real happy when I called him and my dad sent him some pictures wearing the No. 55 jersey."
Walker is now the fourth Nebraska native to join this year's 2017 recruiting class. Walker joins Aurora tight end Austin Allen, former Lincoln Southeast offensive lineman Broc Bando and Bellevue West running back Jaylin Bradley as in-state members in this year's class.
He's also the second commit of this weekend, joining Rivals100 four-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey.
“It’s a huge relief," Walker said to move forward with his recruitment and commit to Nebraska. "I love Wyoming. The coaches, everything is just awesome.
"At the same time, I did not grow up wanting to play there. My dream has always been to play for Nebraska. I have nothing but good things to say about them, but in the end I had to do what's right and best for me and my future going forward."