2025 5-star EDGE Zayden Walker breaks down Friday’s campus visit: Miami is in my top five for sure
For the first time, Ellaville (Ga.) Schley County five-star EDGE Zayden Walker made his way down to Coral Gables for an unofficial visit with the Miami Hurricanes Friday, and to say he was impressed may be an understatement.
“It’s my first time down here, and I can say it is very special,” Walker told CaneSport immediately after the visit concluded. “I’ve been talking to coach Sabbath (Joseph Sabbath) and coach (Derek) Nicholson for a couple of weeks, and we’ve been planning on it for a while and finally made it happen. Miami is different coming from a small town, but I’m glad I got to experience it.”
Walker, who is the No. 9 overall prospect and No. 1 EDGE in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, spent the majority of Friday on campus with Hurricanes staff touring the campus and taking in what Miami had to offer.
During his visit, Walker had the chance to sit down with Miami linebackers coach Derek Nicholson as they broke down film for nearly two hours.
“Coach Nicholson was talking to me about how they would use me on the football field at the linebacker position,” Walker said. “We were probably talking about it for two hours today. That was a key point on the trip.”
Thus far, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound pass rusher says the likes of Georgia, Florida, Ohio State, Florida State, and Miami are among his top programs, and he explained what he will be looking for most in a school down the road.
“A family feel is probably the number one thing,” Walker said. “Every place I have visited is far from home, so a family feel is really important.”
After visiting Miami, Walker has gained that level of trust and comfort with the Hurricanes.
“Yes, sir, most definitely,” Walker said. “The environment and just everything made me feel comfortable at Miami.”
Prior to his visit to Coral Gables, Miami wasn’t a school that was really on Walker’s radar, but now the Hurricanes are climbing in the right direction.
“Miami is in my top five for sure,” Walker said. “Before I even started talking to coach Sabbath, I had no intentions about the Hurricanes. But my interest in Miami just went really high after this visit.”
CaneSport’s take
Sabbath’s role in Walker’s recruitment seems to be the key piece thus far and the main reason he came down to Coral Gables. With Walker also looking to establish a bond with Nicholson, Miami may become a school to watch moving forward in Walker’s recruitment.
“Coach Sabbath was telling me over the phone before I visited that he can’t explain Miami; you’ve just got to be here to see,” Walker said. “And I was here to see it, so it was definitely something different, and I really like it.”
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