RB Kareem Walker Still Not Enrolled or Practicing at Mississippi St
November 19, 2018:
Walker, who spent the 2017 season at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, has verbally committed to Mississippi State, he announced Sunday night on social media.
In a lengthy letter published to Twitter, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Walker called it a "difficult" last two years -- one that included his unexplained departure from Michigan....
"I needed to step back and gather myself refocus on my goals and I have," Walker wrote. "Attending Fort Scott was an eye opener, it really (put) into perspective where I was in life and what I needed to do to get where to where I want to be in life, again both on and off the field.
"I regained my humbleness, matured and open my mind to communicating with my mentors Dr. Greg Harden, Coach Bryan Murray the Riley family, my mother along with some people here in Kansas."
https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2018/11/ex-michigan_rb_kareem_walker_c_1.html
August 3, 2019:
Mississippi State opened fall camp Friday in Starkville, and running back signee Kareem Walker has yet to join the team. Walker is the last remaining signee in the 2019 recruiting class who isn’t practicing yet....
“Yes, he’s finishing up a few administrative items academically,” Moorhead said after practice. “It should be very, very early next week.”
Video starts at that point:
“These people were very real and genuine in their concern for their athletes and not just focused on what you can do for us,” Walker wrote when he committed to Mississippi State. “Coach Moorehead was open and honest, Coach Huff is a tremendous coach and will be a great life mentor as well.”...
He (Walker) helped his New Jersey high school team to three straight national titles. He had ridiculous high school numbers — over 4,500 yards rushing and 55 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs are hoping he can rekindle some of that magic in Starkville.
August 23, 2019:
The lone member of the signing class of 2019 still waiting approval from the NCAA clearinghouse is former Michigan running back Kareem Walker. Walker enrolled at Fort Scott Community College (KS) after two years as a member of the Wolverine football program. The former Under Armour All-American selection signed on with the Bulldogs in an attempt to reboot his college football career.
Walker was originally expected to be a spring semester enrollee, but the December signing period came and went without Walker signing. The New Jersey native inked in February and set his sights on a summer enrollment....
The final date for Walker to enroll for fall classes at Mississippi State appears to be August 28th, the school's drop/add date for the fall semester.
August 25th, 2019 at 4:40 AM ^
One year eligibility left?
August 25th, 2019 at 12:13 PM ^
Two years. Walker transferred last summer, not two summers ago.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:33 AM ^
Did the MSU coach hint that this is all Harbaugh's fault?
August 25th, 2019 at 8:29 AM ^
Harbaugh blocked his Scantrons.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:17 AM ^
I heard he shredded 'em.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:39 AM ^
No, that was Rich Rod.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:48 AM ^
I wouldn't be too concerned about the Aug 28 deadline. When it comes to football players, I've found that for every regulation there is always an equal and opposite waiver.
August 25th, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
And this IS Mississippi State we're talking. Nonetheless, I wish Mr. Walker well.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:57 AM ^
Hope he does well. Just wasn't an academic fit at UM.
August 25th, 2019 at 8:18 AM ^
Probably not an academic fit anywhere.
Looks like he just really hates school or is really bad at it. Especially if he is having trouble getting on a SEC roster.
August 25th, 2019 at 8:36 AM ^
After watching Last Chance U, it’s crazy how bad of an education so many of these young men received in high school.
August 25th, 2019 at 8:44 AM ^
Absolutely. So many of these kids got a pass Bc of football and some of them can barely write a paragraph. It’s unfortunate.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:52 AM ^
Edit: It's criminal.
August 25th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
Most of these guys grew up in slums across the US. We groom the top athletes from these said slums for our entertainment purposes, while most of their peers will never leave the ghetto.
Unfortunate is an understatement.
August 25th, 2019 at 11:43 AM ^
If you ever want to know why, PM me. I’m a teacher
August 25th, 2019 at 5:20 PM ^
I live in a very diverse town, both racially and economically. I joined a mentoring program for high school juniors who are first generation college applicants. The girl I mentored was a good student, nice girl, had a lot of promise, but the college experience has proven to be challenging for her. About to be a sophomore, she's now on her third school. She's not vocal about her issues, at least to me, but this gives you an idea why these kids need mentoring. Her mom is supportive as far as I can tell, but since she has no college degree herself, it's probably tough for her to give advice. And then there's the tuition costs. When she was in high school, applying for scholarships was like a part time job. And then she had an actual part time job, along with school. Not an easy road for kids like her.
August 25th, 2019 at 12:34 PM ^
It's pretty relative, and pretty awful. Was just reading up on a new FSU soccer player with my daughter, from Ireland. Said she was the "captain of her school's German debate team." We had a good yuck over that one, in a (relatively decent) school system where just finding people to give your kid a good grounding in French or Spanish is a challenge. Kids tend to perform up to people's expectations of them.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:50 PM ^
It's done by design. Imagine the education their peers, who aren't talented enough for D1 sports, get.
August 25th, 2019 at 6:01 PM ^
Absolutely
August 25th, 2019 at 7:08 AM ^
August 25th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
No right minded RB would want to run behind the 16/17 OL and antiquated schemes.
August 25th, 2019 at 7:14 AM ^
Hope he gets to enroll. Sounds like the adults in his life including his high school coaches never held him accountable for anything. When he gets to Michigan, he sees that everyone is good who plays on that level and you must compete for playing time. Also, Harbaugh expects you to attend class and tutoring.
August 25th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
Pluck a promising athlete from the ghetto at age 16. Fast track him academically to compensate for the utter lack of primary education during his first 15 years.
Blame said athlete for being unaccountable for anything. Hurl derogatory remarks when athlete trips up.
August 25th, 2019 at 7:26 AM ^
What a shame. The few times he played he really seemed to run angry. Add another 5 star bust at RB to our list.
August 25th, 2019 at 8:20 AM ^
The rating system was very generous with Walker. To me, he ran like one of his legs was on backwards.
# Thursday = Beaver Domination.
August 25th, 2019 at 8:55 AM ^
I coached high school ball for 27 years in Georgia and S.C. The star system is hit or miss and what it does not include is the competition the kid has been playing against. This is why the athleticism in the SEC is ridiculous because prep football down here is excellent. New Jersey prep football is mainly Catholic League competition. Down here, just about everyone is good. Florida is ridiculous good
August 25th, 2019 at 9:00 AM ^
By the time signing day came around Walker was outside the top 100 on the composite, mainly because 247 moved him all the way down to low 4* territory.
August 25th, 2019 at 7:56 AM ^
Is this what happens when a kid is so good at sports that he's allowed to get away with not studying and paying attention to life's mundane requirements? I hope can he get things together, but I have my doubts about that...
August 25th, 2019 at 8:49 AM ^
After listening to his first interview on WTKA, I said he was going to be a future transfer. That was before everybody was doing it. His attitude didn't seem like the type to fit at any program. I remember getting negged not quite to Bolivia but quite possibly to Toledo.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:01 AM ^
Toledo is nice this time of year. Packos dogs & chilli are hard to beat.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:53 AM ^
We need a Peaky Blinders reference. So...
Toledo? It's Small Heath minus the charm.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:17 AM ^
Which Toledo?
August 25th, 2019 at 9:37 AM ^
The one in Spain
August 25th, 2019 at 9:27 AM ^
The "neg" system here pretty much serves just to show those doing most of the neging don't know what they're doing.
August 25th, 2019 at 7:59 AM ^
I don't understand what's going on here. Clearinghouse issues should concern whether he's eligible to play this season, not whether he can enroll and be on scholarship.
Maybe Miss St won't take Walker unless he has immediate eligibility.
August 25th, 2019 at 8:19 AM ^
Academic eligibility is an eligibility issue. Athletes are required to maintain a certain pace towards graduating, that may be the issue. For example an athlete can't just enroll for one class. I think there are also certain "core" classes they must take, or that may just be out of high school.
Also, if he was at Michigan and Fort Scott for 2 years each wouldn't he only have one more year left?
August 25th, 2019 at 8:37 AM ^
Academic eligibility is an issue, but as far as I can tell, it's only an issue for whether he can play immediately or has to take an "academic redshirt".
He only spent one year at Fort Scott. He was in the 2016 class.
As an aside, it's hard to see how Walker could graduate with only one year at Miss St. There's no way he's getting the required upper level credits. He needed to transfer in January. Miss St may be concerned about the hit to their APR.
August 25th, 2019 at 8:30 AM ^
One of the links references NCAA violations and sanctions for Miss State and also for Mizzou. I'm surprised I haven't heard of them earlier.
August 25th, 2019 at 8:35 AM ^
Wish him luck, but at this point it feels like he's either got a pretty significant learning issue or he simply can't put in the effort necessary to stay eligible. I hope he can figure it out because he's a talented player, but at this point I'm sorta surprised he doesn't just play in the CFL or some other league for a year and then try to make an NFL roster, as it's becoming pretty clear that college isn't a good fit.
August 25th, 2019 at 10:45 AM ^
He's a prime candidate for the XFL.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:00 AM ^
He's a good athlete. Wish him the best. Not everyone is cut out for college.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:03 AM ^
Cardale Jones ain't come here to play school.
August 25th, 2019 at 9:27 AM ^
So he is going from UM to MSU?
August 25th, 2019 at 9:49 AM ^
All I need is some tasty waves a cool buzz and I’m fine.
August 25th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
People think that they are doing kids a favor by letting them slide on behavior and schoolwork, but it always causes more trouble in the end.
August 25th, 2019 at 1:02 PM ^
*not always
FIFY
August 25th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^
Doc Harden is the man.
August 25th, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^
So he has academic issues yet they are trying to find a way to get him enrolled in classes several weeks late. Talk about setting someone up for failure. Obviously they will get him the easiest classes available and probably have someone do the work for him but this is a ridiculous situation.
August 25th, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
Miss St was penalized by the NCAA just two days ago because a tutor got caught doing the work for some athletes. They got 3 years probation plus other penalties.
There's a sudden need for them to be careful.
August 25th, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
Which makes me wonder just what academic hoops Michigan jumped through to not only get Walker past the clearinghouse in 2016, but to have him on the field in 2017.
As an aside, Walker has two years of eligibility remaining. Sat out 2016, played 2017, JuCo 2018, potentially has the 2019 and 2020 seasons remaining.