On The Trail: Charles Walker
Two weeks ago it looked like Oklahoma was done looking for defensive tackles for its 2013 class. Assistant coach Jackie Shipp had put in major work and landed three quality commitments.
But Shipp wasn’t done. He went to Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial last weekend and offered three-star prospect Matthew Romar.
Romar saw OU’s campus for the first time this weekend and took some time to think it over before committing to the Sooners, Port Arthur Memorial coach Kenny Harrison confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
Romar, who is 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, also had offers from Tulsa and Baylor, among others. Once the Sooners fully entered the race, though, it became clear it was up to OU to simply close the deal.
He played a little bit of running back in high school so there was some speculation about his size. Harrison said once Shipp saw Romar in person two weeks ago, all the doubts vanished.
But Shipp wasn’t done. He went to Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial last weekend and offered three-star prospect Matthew Romar.
Romar saw OU’s campus for the first time this weekend and took some time to think it over before committing to the Sooners, Port Arthur Memorial coach Kenny Harrison confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
Romar, who is 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, also had offers from Tulsa and Baylor, among others. Once the Sooners fully entered the race, though, it became clear it was up to OU to simply close the deal.
He played a little bit of running back in high school so there was some speculation about his size. Harrison said once Shipp saw Romar in person two weeks ago, all the doubts vanished.
ACC
Georgia Tech
Ricky Jeune WR Montvale, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional
HT: 6-2 WT: 205
Position Rank: #74 WR
Georgia Tech
Ricky Jeune WR Montvale, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional
HT: 6-2 WT: 205
Position Rank: #74 WR
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Three-star DT Walker finds a home at OU
January, 12, 2013
Jan 12
9:26
PM ET
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
During December, there was no bigger position of need for Oklahoma than defensive tackle. In the span of 31 days, OU has gone from having zero commits with panic engulfing Sooner fans to having three and looking pretty.
The latest came Saturday night, as three-star tackle Charles Walker (Garland, Texas/South Garland) confirmed he has committed to the Sooners.
Walker, who is 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, is ranked No. 40 in the nation at defensive tackle. Injuries hampered him during his sophomore and junior seasons, but he was healthy and effective this season.
And OU defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp noticed that. North Texas and Houston were other schools looking at Walker, but Shipp saw something in Walker that no other big-time BCS-school universities saw.
Walker was offered by OU last month and admitted he wanted to commit right there on the spot. But he held off, saying he wanted to see the campus.
That was taken care of this weekend as Walker was one of eight official visitors for the Sooners. Baylor started talking to Walker earlier this week, but OU had already put in the work to secure his commitment.
Walker tore his labrum in the summer but played his senior season anyway. He underwent successful surgery last month and said he should be good to go by March.
He saw OU practice at the Cotton Bowl two weeks ago and all it did was fire him up more about his trip to Norman. Safe to say the trip lived up to his expectations.
Walker is ranked No. 40, one spot below fellow OU commit Kerrick Huggins (Dallas/Skyline). Huggins, who flipped from Texas A&M to OU on Dec. 14, is ranked No. 39 and was OU’s first commit at the position.
The Sooners will also get some immediate help at tackle as three-star ESPN JC 100 prospect Quincy Russell (Athens, Texas/Trinity Valley) signed with OU on Dec. 19.
ESPN's SoonerNation
ESPN.com's SoonerNation covers everything Oklahoma, including college football and recruiting. SoonerNation
More:
• Recruiting news | Blog | Forum 
Walker, who is 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, is ranked No. 40 in the nation at defensive tackle. Injuries hampered him during his sophomore and junior seasons, but he was healthy and effective this season.
And OU defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp noticed that. North Texas and Houston were other schools looking at Walker, but Shipp saw something in Walker that no other big-time BCS-school universities saw.
Walker was offered by OU last month and admitted he wanted to commit right there on the spot. But he held off, saying he wanted to see the campus.
That was taken care of this weekend as Walker was one of eight official visitors for the Sooners. Baylor started talking to Walker earlier this week, but OU had already put in the work to secure his commitment.
Walker tore his labrum in the summer but played his senior season anyway. He underwent successful surgery last month and said he should be good to go by March.
He saw OU practice at the Cotton Bowl two weeks ago and all it did was fire him up more about his trip to Norman. Safe to say the trip lived up to his expectations.
Walker is ranked No. 40, one spot below fellow OU commit Kerrick Huggins (Dallas/Skyline). Huggins, who flipped from Texas A&M to OU on Dec. 14, is ranked No. 39 and was OU’s first commit at the position.
The Sooners will also get some immediate help at tackle as three-star ESPN JC 100 prospect Quincy Russell (Athens, Texas/Trinity Valley) signed with OU on Dec. 19.
After a weekend trip to North Texas, defensive tackle Charles Walker (Garland, Texas/South Garland) has an early favorite.
Walker took his first official visit to Denton, Texas, and took in the North Texas campus over the weekend. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound tackle liked the trip so much that he put the Mean Green atop his recruiting list.
“I enjoyed it and everybody there,” Walker said. “It just felt right to be there, and I’m really thinking strongly about going there.”
Walker took his first official visit to Denton, Texas, and took in the North Texas campus over the weekend. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound tackle liked the trip so much that he put the Mean Green atop his recruiting list.
“I enjoyed it and everybody there,” Walker said. “It just felt right to be there, and I’m really thinking strongly about going there.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
DL Charles Walker hoping for LSU offer 
November, 21, 2012
11/21/12
2:51
PM ET
By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
Defensive lineman Charles Walker (Garland, Texas/South Garland) has his options, but when it comes to his recruiting process, he’s all about taking some official visits before making a decision.
Walker, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive tackle who also can play defensive end, claims offers from Oklahoma, Iowa, North Texas, Houston and Colorado. Before he makes a decision, Walker said he would like to make some stops after the season. South Garland currently is in the second round of the Texas Class 5A playoffs.
“I’m going to make some visits in December,” Walker said. “I’ll probably do a couple in January, too. Right now, I’m just trying to see from now until January if I get anything new.”
Walker, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive tackle who also can play defensive end, claims offers from Oklahoma, Iowa, North Texas, Houston and Colorado. Before he makes a decision, Walker said he would like to make some stops after the season. South Garland currently is in the second round of the Texas Class 5A playoffs.
“I’m going to make some visits in December,” Walker said. “I’ll probably do a couple in January, too. Right now, I’m just trying to see from now until January if I get anything new.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
OU-Texas a big deal for Charles Walker
October, 12, 2012
10/12/12
6:22
PM ET
By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
Defensive tackle Charles Walker (Garland, Texas/South Garland) is one of the many college football recruiting prospects making the trip to the Cotton Bowl for Saturday’s Texas-Oklahoma showdown.
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound tackle claims an offer from Oklahoma and has received some interest from Texas. Like most of the uncommitted players there, he’s hoping for Saturday to offer an idea of what he wants in a winning program.
“I’m ready to see them get after it,” Walker said. “I want to see how the offenses execute and if the defenses can be on lockdown.”
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound tackle claims an offer from Oklahoma and has received some interest from Texas. Like most of the uncommitted players there, he’s hoping for Saturday to offer an idea of what he wants in a winning program.
“I’m ready to see them get after it,” Walker said. “I want to see how the offenses execute and if the defenses can be on lockdown.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ABOUT THIS BLOG
On The Trail is ESPN Recruiting's home for all the latest news and information. With some of the nation's top recruiting writers contributing, OTT provides the latest details about commitments, visits and other notes to give fans the most comprehensive recruiting news source in the country.
More RecruitingNation blogs
RecruitingNation has the latest recruiting news from across the country:
• East Region blog
• Midlands Region blog
• Midwest Region blog
• Southeast Region blog
• West Region blog