Why Wesley Walker chose Michigan, how Sherrone Moore compares to the three other head coaches he's played for

Michigan Wolverines football graduate safety Wesley Walker commited to Georgia Tech Aug. 1, 2018, under head coach Paul Johnson. He then played three seasons there for Geoff Collins, before transferring to Josh Heupel‘s Tennessee. Walker spent this past spring at Louisville under Jeff Brohm, before transferring to Michigan, which has a first-time head coach in Sherrone Moore.

The three coaches who Walker played for — Collins (6 years), Heupel (3) and Brohm (10) — have a combined 19 years of head-coaching experience. Yet, Moore, who was Michigan’s offensive coordinator and line coach before receiving the promotion to replace Jim Harbaugh, and his program have stood out among the rest.

“Sherrone is a great guy — first, before anything,” said Walker, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder out of Lewisburg, Tenn. “But as far as coaching, he keeps things in order. He makes sure everything flows smoothly.

“Actually, of all the places I’ve been, I think this is the smoothest practice flow. It’s strictly ball, and that’s what it should really always be. It’s not about your rah-rah stuff. It’s just strictly ball and getting in and getting better.

“Instead of doing a lot of separate stuff, we do a lot of good-on-good, team things. That’s ultimately how you’re going to get better, going good-on-good.”

Michigan has won the last three Big Ten championships and the 2023 national championship. Unlike any of Walker’s previous stops, the Wolverines have an established, title-winning program with the goal of keeping it rolling. He’s noticed the strong culture that’s in place.

“The biggest difference here is just the team atmosphere,” Walker said of the program’s vibe. “I feel like I’m really a part of the team — truly, not being cliché. Ever since I got here, it just has a different feel. It feels more tight-knit.

“Honestly, with the championship, they don’t even really speak about it too much. It’s more so just about working toward getting another one. We don’t really talk about it — it’s more about the work to do it.”

How Wesley Walker ended up at Michigan

Walker had an interesting offseason, having committed to Ole Miss in January but flipping to Louisville, spending a semester at the latter and then winding up at Michigan.

“I felt like this was the spot for me,” Walker said of choosing the Maize and Blue. “This is my last year, so I was just trying to find a spot that allowed the smoothest transition to me and what I want for my career. When the opportunity came, I knew I had to come see how it was up here. When I got up here, it was a no brainer.

“Really the facility, the access that I have to getting my body right, just not only in the offseason but in-season and things that I have access to [were factors in the decision]. The coaching staff was really transparent with me, and they painted a good picture for how they have seen how I can be implemented into the defense. Just overall, it just seemed like the best fit for me and what I was looking for.”

Michigan linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary held the same position at Tennessee for three seasons from 2021-23. While he didn’t coach Walker’s position group, the two formed a relationship, and Jean-Mary was a big part of the recruitment to U-M.

“Actually, he was one of the first to reach out to me when I entered the portal,” Walker said. “I felt it was kinda meant to be, him being here and then me visiting and liking it so much. I felt like it was just a connection that was meant to be. I kinda looked at it that way.”

Walker has played in 46 games with 25 starts as he enters his sixth season of college football. He’s logged 2,237 defensive snaps, including over 500 in four separate seasons. As Harbaugh would say, he’s “seen a lot of balls kicked off.”

“I’ve played a lot of snaps in college,” Walker said of what he brings to Michigan. “I’m going into my final year, so I’ve played over 2,000 snaps. I bring IQ, a person that’s gonna play really fast because I trust what I see. I’m gonna be a sponge, as well, though. I know that I know a lot, but I can also learn from other guys around me and my coaches. I plan on being a sponge and also spreading the knowledge that I already have.”

Michigan had a need at safety this offseason, especially when senior Rod Moore went down with a potentially season-ending knee injury in the spring.

“I feel like, being transparent, if Rod didn’t get hurt, I probably wouldn’t have come here,” Walker acknowledged. “But as far as coming in and replacing him, we are different players because I’m me and he’s him — that’s a given — but I look forward to showing the fans my style of play and how I play.”

Moore has suited up for practices, but in different attire than his teammates. He swapped out a helmet and shoulder pads for a visor and headset — doing his part to make an impact on the team. He’s one of several teammates who have helped Walker make a smooth transition.

“They’ve helped me with all of the questions I’ve had,” the Michigan safety said. “They actually ask questions before I even ask one. So Rod Moore, even though he’s not playing this year, he’s very attentive and active in meetings. He’s speaking, and if I might not know because it’s new to me, he’ll explain it and make sure I know it. Everybody in the room is really like that, too. But for the most part, I get most of the stuff down.”