Coach | 2022 Notre Dame LB Target Jalon Walker Joy To Coach

Brian Hinson understands elite college football programs are built around players like Jalon Walker‍, but knows the 2022 North Carolina linebacker is a rarity for high school football.

“He’s one of those guys you get every once in a while in your coaching career at the high school level,” the Salisbury High School coach says. “He’s so explosive, so athletic and he has a love and passion for the game to play at such a high level.

“He’s super athletic and tremendously explosive. It’s unreal the range he has, the explosion he has and the fight that he plays with. It’s fun to watch.”

He acknowledges for schools like Notre Dame, recruiting players of that caliber on the field is the norm, but when it comes to Walker’s persona in the locker room, classroom and community, the coach will make no such concessions.

“If you find somebody better than him in those aspects, I’d be shocked,” says Hinson. “He comes from great parents, a great whole family. It’s a good group of people.”

Last month, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder added Notre Dame to a scholarship list that already included schools like Clemson, LSU, Auburn, Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M and Michigan State among several others.

“I think anytime Notre Dame comes calling, you’re going to answer the phone and at least listen,” Hinson says. “I think it’s definitely going to carry some weight…If you’re looking at a Top 10 All-Time schools and Top 10 All-Time football programs, Notre Dame is on it. It’s got to mean something.

“Jalon is smart enough and is a hard worker. Football is not the end result. As far as the NFL, Jalon is obviously going to have a backup plan for what he’s going to do in the future, so he’s going to look and see what’s the best fit academically, but the relationships he builds through recruiting are going to matter.”

Walker’s father, Curtis, is the head coach at Catawba College and served as defensive coordinator for his alma mater in the early-2000’s, when they were competing against a Brian Kelly-led Grand Valley State squad for Division II national championships.

“He comes from a football family and his Mama was a great basketball player,” says Hinson.

“We’re a low socio-economic inner-city school. Jalon is that kid who breaks the mold for a lot of people. He’s kind of an example of what the kids can become and what they want to be. He carries himself tremendously well. He’s a great kid.”