Kareem Walker commits to Michigan: Wolverines could finish with No. 1 recruiting class

The nation’s No. 1 running back committed to the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday with Kareem Walker picking Jim Harbaugh’s team to lift them to the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class.

It was a resurgent year for Michigan on the field with the return of Jim Harbaugh to Ann Arbor and it’s been a resurgent time on the recruiting trail for the Wolverines who climbed up to the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, trailing the Ohio State Buckeyes, after Thursday’s commitment from Kareem Walker.

Walker (Wayne, N.J. DePaul Catholic) is a four-star recruit and a former Ohio State commit who opened up his commitment in November after an official visit to Michigan and they were able to hold off late charges from Florida State and Arizona State to secure the commitment from the No. 38 overall recruit and the No. 1 running back, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

The 6-1, 210-pound Walker should be able to make an immediate impact next year as a freshman after rushing for 4,288 yards and scoring 51 touchdowns over the last three years of his high school career.

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Michigan fans should be lauding the efforts from interim linebackers coach Chris Partridge who has cleaned up in New Jersey and the former head coach of Paramus Catholic (N.J.) has commitments from four of the top seven recruits in the state and could land the No. 1 overall recruit Rashaan Gary by National Signing Day.

If Michigan can get Gary to this class, it’s possible Harbaugh and the Wolverines could overtake Ohio State and hold off a push from Alabama to get the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.