Four-star defensive lineman Julian Walker has officially signed with South Carolina, joining the Gamecocks’ 2026 recruiting class after flipping his commitment from Michigan on signing day.
Before making his decision, Walker was approached by Bill Belichick, who attempted to use North Carolina’s NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals to lure him to Chapel Hill. Despite the high-profile effort, Walker chose to stay close to home and play alongside his father, Jamil Walker, who serves as Assistant Football Strength and Conditioning Coach for South Carolina.
The Irmo, South Carolina native was considered the state’s top prospect in the 2026 cycle. Though he had initially committed to Michigan in July, Walker had long been leaning toward South Carolina, and he finalized his decision in the early signing window on Thursday.
High school coach Tom Knotts revealed that Belichick kept Walker on the phone for an hour, presenting NIL incentives, which left the young edge rusher stressed during his playoff weekend. “He was so distracted,” Knotts said, praising Walker for ultimately committing to the Gamecocks.
Had Walker chosen North Carolina, it could have set up a future matchup where father and son were on opposing sidelines, as UNC is scheduled on South Carolina’s 2028 and 2029 calendars. Instead, Walker will play next season under his father’s guidance at South Carolina.
