IRVINGTON (updated Tuesday August 9, 10:03 a.m.) – Kareem Walker is getting ready to begin his football career at the University of Michigan this fall.
Walker, who turned 18 in May, was ranked as one of the nation’s top high school running backs last year. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Irvington native led DePaul Catholic in Wayne to the state Non-Public Group 3 championship last season. It was DePaul’s third straight state title after winning the Non-Public Group 2 crowns in 2013 and 2014.
Walker finished his career with 4,563 rushing yards and 55 rushing touchdowns. As a senior, he rushed for 1,517 yards and 13 touchdowns as the DePaul Spartans won three games in the state playoffs, capped by the 40-17 win over St. John Vianney, to finish with a 6-6 record. Walker rushed for 195 yards and two TDs on 30 carries in the state championship game.
Fellow Irvington native Hasise DuBois also was Walker’s teammate at DePaul. DuBois, a wide receiver, caught a 16-yard TD pass in last season’s state championship game. DuBois will continue his football career on an athletic scholarship at the University of Virginia.
Following the season, Walker played in the Under Armour All-American Game. Nationally, he was rated No. 1 by ESPN and Rivals.com and No. 2 by Scout.com among all running backs. Overall, Walker was ranked No. 21 by Rivals.Com and No. 31 by ESPN.
Michigan also has fellow New Jerseyans Jabrill Peppers, a cornerback/safety from East Orange, who was graduated from Paramus Catholic where he was an All-American, and Rashan Gary, a defensive tackle who was last season’s No. 1 ranked overall high school player in the nation by ESPN and Rivals.com, also from Paramus Catholic.
Michigan is coached by Jim Harbaugh, who led the Wolverines to a 10-3 record in his first year with the team last season, capped by the 41-7 win over Florida in the Orlando Citrus Bowl.
Michigan is ranked No. 8 in the nation in the Preseason Coaches Top 20 poll.
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