Georgia football: Blue-chip recruit Jalon Walker explains decision to commit to Dawgs

The Georgia football program adds another blue-chip prospect for 2022, as four-star outside linebacker Jalon Walker committed to the Dawgs on Sunday afternoon.

Jalon Walker becomes the 10th Georgia football commit for the 2022 class.

The four-star outside linebacker picked the Dawgs over Alabama, Clemson and North Carolina. According to the 247 Sports Composite, Walker ranks as the No. 2 player from North Carolina, the No. 4 outside linebacker in the country and the No. 50 overall player in his class. The Salisbury, North Carolina native explained why he picked Georgia in his conversation with 247Sports.

“I’m excited,” said Walker to 247Sports. “They have a great opportunity in their future of guys coming in, players that they recruited, people in my class going there, it’s a great opportunity to be great.”

Walker’s primary recruiter to Georgia was inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann with defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach Dan Lanning serving as his secondary. Those two coaches, as well as head coach Kirby Smart and defensive analyst Will Muschamp, played a big part in getting Walker to come to Athens to play his college football for the Dawgs.

“I feel like coach Smart, coach Muschamp, coach Lanning and coach Schumann are a great defensive core that our great defensive people,” said Walker. “I feel like they can mold me into the linebacker that can make me achieve to the best of my ability and excel in the NFL if I have that chance.”

Another big key that led to Walker committing to Georgia was being able to visit Athens in-person. It is one of the best college towns in the country, as the atmosphere in the Classic City is unlike most schools in the Power 5. Walker and his family made the trek to Northeast Georgia and fell in love with the place.

“I feel like it’s a great atmosphere,” said Walker. “I took that self-guided visit with my family and it changed a lot. How everything is a college town, everything is right there and you don’t have to go anywhere to get what you want or need. Sanford Stadium is a beauty. Between those hedges is something difficult to play in if you’re an opponent.”

Jalon Walker gives the Georgia football team seven top-100 commits for 2022

Walker is now the 10th 2022 high school prospect to Commit to the G. He is the fourth-highest rated prospect committed to Georgia after a trio of five-stars, including athlete Malaki Starks who committed to Georgia over Alabama and Clemson on Thursday evening. With Walker’s commitment, 70 percent of Georgia’s 2022 commits are top-100 prospects, according to 247.

While Georgia has yet to win a national title under Smart, the Dawgs have won the SEC East three of his five years in charge and played for a national championship in 2017. Georgia has been to a New Year’s Six bowl each of the last four years, winning three of those four high-profile bowl games. Walker wants to be a reason the Dawgs finally get over the top to win the big prize.

It is still early, but Walker’s commitment is another sign of Georgia dominating in recruitment.

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