Just nine days following Auburn Tigers’ defeat to the Maryland Terrapins in the 2023 Music City Bowl in Nashville, Hugh Freeze successfully secured the commitment of former Maryland tight end Rico Walker.
After declaring his intention to enter the transfer portal on December 1, Walker attracted interest from programs such as Pitt, South Florida, Tulane, and JMU. Ultimately, Auburn, where his father Ricardo was part of the Tigers’ undefeated 1993 team as a defensive lineman, emerged as the winning choice for Walker. Ricardo Walker contributed as a freshman during that remarkable season.
Walker officially announced his commitment to Hugh Freeze and the Tigers through a Monday morning Instagram post.
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, the tight end will bring three years of eligibility to The Plains. In his freshman season with the Terrapins, Walker participated in four games, securing four passes for a total of 27 yards.
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A 4-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class according to 247 Sports, Walker was ranked as the seventh-best recruit from the state of North Carolina. Throughout his recruitment, he received offers from prominent schools such as Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, and North Carolina.
Upon joining Auburn, Walker will be part of a tight end group that includes returning players Rivaldo Fairweather, Luke Deal, Brandon Frazier, and Micah Riley.
With Walker’s commitment on Monday, he becomes the fifth addition to Auburn’s 2024 transfer class, joining George Lewis from Georgia State as a wide receiver, Gage Keys from Kansas as a defensive lineman, Dorian Mausi from Duke as a linebacker, and Sam Jackson V from Cal, who transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver.
