Commitment Date: June 16, 2012
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
High School: Friendship Collegiate Academy
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 215 lbs.
ESPN Rank: #55 ILB, 3-star
Scout.com Rank: #111 OLB, 3-star
Rivals Rank: Rating N/A, 3-star ILB
247Sports Rank: #43 WDE, 3-star
40 time: 4.7 secs (Rivals), N/A (ESPN, Scout.com, 247Sports)
Other Offers: Houston, New Mexico, North Carolina State, Purdue.
The Terps picked up a commitment from the versatile LB/DE Cavon Walker just a day after OT Derwin Gray committed. Walker and Gray were teammates this past high school football season at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C.
As you can see from the rankings, analysts differ on whether Walker is a weak-side defensive end, outside linebacker, or an inside linebacker. Based solely on his size, he projects to be an outside linebacker in college. The Terps are picking up all of the linebacking help that they can get their hands on due to the graduation of 3 of their 4 starting LBs. Kenneth Tate and Darin Drakeford played both outside linebacker spots in defensive coordinator Brian Stewart’s 3-4 defense last season, and the Terps will have to replace both of them this season.
Cavon Walker chose the Terps over offers from Houston, N.C. State, Purdue, and New Mexico. The fact that these quality schools were looking at Walker goes to show how talented he is. He is another solid 3-star recruit that has some upside, especially when he bulks up a bit. At 215 lbs., he has a lot of room for growth. Once he adds some weight, he could be a real asset for the Terps in their linebacker-heavy defensive scheme.
Walker missed his entire junior year due to a foot fracture. This is one of the reasons that he has flown a bit under the radar with his rankings. Most analysts seem to believe that he is more talented than his rankings show. His greatest skill is his work ethic. Imagine him as kind of a football version of Maryland SG/SF Dez Wells. He is the type of guy that will always give 110% in practice, games, and life. Randy Edsall loves those types of guys, and always makes sure to reward them during the course of a season.
Expect Cavon Walker to either redshirt or play special teams in his first year with the Terps. He’s not the type of guy that is going to step into a starting or 2nd-string role in his first year. But he is definitely a player who can provide some really quality depth in his career here at Maryland, and could see some starting time if everything goes well. As long as he can stay healthy, he has the talent to make an impact when the Terps enter Big Ten play in 2014.
Terps Analyst
Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: zack.kiesel@baltimoresportsandlife.com.