DeZephen Walker returned to Notre Dame on Saturday after a trip to South Bend in the fall and the 2026 Missouri running back left impressed.
“Everything went well today,” Walker told Irish Sports Daily afterward. “We went into a lot of position meetings and meetings with the staff and academic advisor. Everything went well. The staff was great. The atmosphere was great. The campus was great. Overall, I like Notre Dame.”
Walker, who is also seriously considering schools like Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska and Oregon, was impressed with his academic advisor meeting.
“He really made it a point that Notre Dame is a school that is serious about academics,” Walker explained. “I'm going to have to make sure I'm on my P's and Q's with everything because they're going to be on my grades. They're going to be constantly holding me accountable. He really made that point. They want guys who are willing to work and I'm willing to put in the work.”
The Raymore-Peculiar star enjoyed his chat with head coach Marcus Freeman.
“It went great,” he said. “He speaks highly of me and my family. Him being a great coach, the incredible coach that he is, that speaks volumes.”
Deland McCullough was the Irish running backs coach during his first visit, so this offered an opportunity to connect with new running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider in person.
“I like Coach Seider,” Walker said. “He's different from Coach McCullough, but he's a great coach. He has a successful background and he made it a point that he wants me on the team and he wants me to be a part of something special. I'm a high priority for him as well, so I appreciate that.”
Walker was able to chat with current Irish star Jeremiyah Love during the trip.
“He was just telling me basically Notre Dame is a great place, great environment, great people,” Walker said of Love. “It's a great opportunity for life after football and basically I've got to come in, locked in and ready to work.”
Walker’s father, former NFL defensive lineman Demetrios Walker, joined him on the visit and left feeling comfortable with the adults in South Bend.
“After talking to Coach Freeman, talking to Coach Seider, I would feel comfortable,” Mr. Walker said. “From the day he was born, I cut the umbilical cord and taught him how to crawl, walk, and everything else.
“It's very important because when I drop my child off, I want him to be in good hands. It sounds like if I was to drop him off, that he would be in good hands and he would also be a good man to contribute to society in a productive manner.”
Walker has already taken an official visit to Kansas and has officials set to Kansas State, Oregon, Nebraska and Notre Dame. His mother will join him when he returns to South Bend for that official in June, but other than his mother seeing it, there isn’t a ton more Walker needs to learn about Notre Dame.
“Notre Dame is definitely a top school for me. Coming in on an official visit should be great. I think highly of Notre Dame.”
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