Michigan football honoree Dametrius 'Meechie' Walker passes away
Dametrius “Meechie” Walker – a former Muskegon High School football recruit and Michigan honoree this past season – passed away this week after a battle with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer in his leg.
Walker was a 2022 recruit that had to quit football due to his cancer and eventually had his left leg amputated. Dating back to this summer, he was in hospice care when Michigan brought him in during fall camp to score a touchdown on the field at the Big House.
“It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we share that Dametrius “Meechie” Walker has passed away after a courageous fight with osteosarcoma,” Muskegon football said on social media on Friday. “Thank you all for your support. Please continue to send prayers and positive vibes to his family during this time.”
Michigan honored Walker during the game vs. Maryland, getting an ovation from the home crowd. The team helped set up a GoFundMe to pay for his medical expenses and helped him score a touchdown during Michigan’s fall camp. His story was also featured this fall on FOX and ESPN pregame shows.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh pushed the wheelchair when Walker scored his touchdown with the Wolverines in camp. He was asked to explain the team’s relationship with Walker during his Monday press conference.
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“It was just an instant bond there, an instant click with our team,” Harbaugh said this summer. “The love that he gives out, you feel that and you want to give that. Our players, they’ve got big hearts. It’s a very spiritual team that we have in many ways.
“It came to me: the most spiritual place maybe in this town or in this community campus is right here in Schembechler Hall in terms of how many players are just so rock solid in their faith. I also want to honor Robby Emery who is our team Chaplain.
“Specifically with Meechie, our team, they just have an open heart for others. They don’t just care about themselves. They really care about others. He’s just somebody that you meet and just exudes a spirit of spirituality, a love that you’re drawn to. It was instant — it was that instant click with with all of us in our team.
“We want him around. We want him to want to get the treatment that will give his life more longevity. If we can help make that quality of life better, we want to do that. That’s just how our team felt.”
