Oklahoma football spotlight: Redshirt freshman CB Kani Walker
Oklahoma football has made significant use of the transfer portal in strengthening its roster ahead of the 2022 season. One of those additions is cornerback Kani Walker, a transfer from Louisville.
Walker was not a highly touted recruit coming out of high school. Despite that, he still garnered a few offers from Power 5 teams. Teams saw the potential in a 6-foot, 2-inch, 195-pound defensive back. Walker has the size you want to have in today’s pedal-to-the-metal game: a corner who can run and has some height and bulk to press and contest passes against taller pass catchers.
Overlooked in many ways, likely because of the high school he went in Douglasville, Georgia, which struggled his senior season. The state of Georgia, however, produces a ton of quality football players and, much like in Texas, many slip through the cracks. He was honorable mention all-state honoree, intercepting four passes, and forcing two fumbles.
Walker originally committed to Boston College but chose to go to Louisville, likely due to home proximity. He needed to put on some weight and did not play much as a freshman for Louisville, but the young corner was not a well-kept secret.
The Louisville coaches did not want Walker to leave, but when he chose to enter the transfer portal, the relationship between his high school coach and OU defensive coordinator Ted Roof opened the door for the Sooners.
It the short time he has been in Norman and with the team, Walker has been turning heads at OU. He is listed as a redshirt freshman for OU next season and is expected to either take a starting role at corner opposite Woodi Washington or rotate with veteran D.J. Graham who has played outstanding football for OU in his first two seasons.
Quite frankly. Kani Walker was vastly underrated in high school, as his tape and camp showings indicate a player that would typically be a top 300-caliber prospect:
Kani Walker (@KaniWalker9) is LOCKDOWN. His rating is too low in my opinion. He's a defensive athlete who will be able to play literally every single position in the secondary but you can expect to see him locking down WRs from the CB spot mainly. @CardSportZone pic.twitter.com/ZeGqGe4rIk
— Cards Hive (@CSZCardsHive) June 27, 2020
This kid has Freshman All-American written all over him, OU has found a gem! He is a high IQ football player who puts in the work in the film room, as seen here in high school, when he blows a play up by simply being in the right position for the play:
Plays like this won't show up in the stat sheet for Kani Walker (@KaniWalker_) but these are plays that will make all the difference for the UL defense. He was the entire reason that play got broken up and the QB had to throw the ball into the dirt. Coach Brown got him a GEM!! pic.twitter.com/LKZL5YFWGj
— Cards Hive (@CSZCardsHive) October 20, 2020
Walker is the prototypical athlete that coach Venables is looking for in his defensive backs. Trees in the back end of the defense is the goal, and when Venables was at Clemson that is what he got in players like Andrew Booth and AJ Terrell.
In Walker, Oklahoma has added a physical presence who is not afraid to help in run support and can also bump and run. He will contribute right away.