Julian Walker flips from Michigan to South Carolina, staying home for Gamecocks’ 2026 Class

Dutch Fork four-star EDGE Julian Walker announced Thursday morning that he has flipped his commitment from Michigan to South Carolina, giving Shane Beamer one of the most meaningful recruiting wins of the cycle, on and off the field. The 6-foot-6 pass-rusher didn't sign on Wednesday, a decision that immediately signaled movement behind the recruiting scenes. Ultimately Gamecocks closed strong, sealing a high-priority flip and adding a major piece to their 2026 recruiting class.

This recruitment had layers from the very start. Walker’s father is a member of South Carolina’s strength staff, a connection that has anchored the Gamecocks in his recruiting process even after his July pledge to Michigan. In the end, the pull of staying home, and the people who helped build him, proved decisive.

“The fact that my father is there is always the most important thing to me,” Walker told Rivals earlier this year. “He has trained and developed me my whole life. I’m most familiar with the weight room and how they do things. I know I’ll be developed physically at a high level. Then there’s Sterling Lucas, he’s my guy. He’s the one who stays in contact with me, and it’s not just ball.”

From a roster standpoint, this is a monster pickup for Beamer and defensive line. Walker’s frame, movement, and natural power put him among the most high-ceiling defenders in the nation. Walker is the type of player who changes a defense’s identity with length, burst, and a build that only needs polish and reps.

Welcome home, Julian Walker!!