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Michigan CB Amorion Walker: 'I'm one of the best athletes in the country'

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•03/16/23•

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Amorion Walker
(Photo by Clayton Sayfie / TheWolverine.com)

Michigan Wolverines football sophomore Amorion Walker may play both ways this fall, at wide receiver and cornerback, but he’s working exclusively on defense during spring ball. He’s learning on the fly as a defensive back, a position he played some in high school and as a freshman in Ann Arbor, but coming along nicely in the early going.

“I feel like it’s [going], quite frankly, really well,” Walker said. “I got players like [graduate] Mikey [Sainristil] and [sophomore] Will [Johnson] roll with some momentum, giving me some tips and tricks, staying with me after practice and stuff, and even before, trying to help me out any way they can.”

Sainristil made the switch from receiver to defensive back last season, and became a key part of Michigan’s defense from the nickel position. He’s helped Walker along the way.

“Since day one, always had him in my arsenal. He was a guy that I always stayed in his back pocket,” Walker explained. “Even when I was on the offensive side, he was somebody I could come to and get some tips and pointers from whenever I needed to. 

“As far as the transition, very thankful for him. I probably wouldn’t be doing as good as I’m doing without him right now. Just making sure I’m doing what I need to do — if it’s just being there 10 minutes early or staying after with him or doing some extra drills.

“And Will, too. He’s not playing right now [with a lower-body injury], but he’s helping a good deal.”

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The toughest part is shaking off some of the “receiver tendencies” Walker still carries with him.

“I might get my head around too fast [at corner] or something like that,” the Michigan sophomore said. “Just trying to get back into the DB motion and back to where I used to be before I made the switch.”

Until the technique comes, Walker is relying on his elite athleticism. He went viral earlier this offseason for running a 6.10-second 3-cone drill — and the way he changes direction had Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh calling him a “unicorn” with sky high potential.

“From an athleticism standpoint, I definitely believe I’m one of the best athletes in the country, for sure,” Walker proclaimed. “As far as running and jumping ability and being able to change direction, just all of those categories.”

Walker revealed he grabbed 2 interceptions in practice this week — one on a go ball and another on a deep post. He believes his ability to play the ball is what he’s best at so far.

“I would consider that one of my biggest strengths,” Walker said of defending jump balls. “Not being able to get jumped over, being able to run with anybody.

“Right now, I’ve really been leaning on a lot of athleticism. Cleaning up the technique is what I really need to do. I feel like when I get that down, I’ll be a complete DB, but now it’s getting by with my athleticism and making plays in that area.

“Every day, I’m trying to tune in and get my technique down so I don’t always have to [rely on athleticism].”

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