Closer Look: Athleticism Of Miles Walker Is Just The Start

Ohio State went to Greenwich, Connecticut to find Miles Walker, who was a three-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. Walker was ranked the No. 33 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 501 player overall. He signed with the Buckeyes over offers from Texas A&M, Penn State, Dartmouth, Iowa, Pittsburgh, Duke, and others.

Walker enrolled early for the Buckeyes and was one of four true freshman offensive linemen to participate in spring ball. He spent most of his time as the No. 3 right tackle for the Buckeyes.

What To Like

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, Walker moves extremely well for a big man. He covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time. He can pull or be a lead blocker. The level of competition was obviously kicked up about 40 notches in the spring, but he is a smart player who learns quickly. Walker has the frame and athleticism to play anywhere on the offensive line, but tackle will be his first look.

Walker will get stronger and more comfortable in the years to come, but the effort and willingness are already there. From all accounts, he’s impressed this summer and is hungry for more. The enthusiasm and determination will get him through the rough patches that all true freshmen deal with. The good news is that he’s got three other classmates dealing with the exact same thing.

Ohio State freshman offensive tackle Miles Walker is a mobile lineman who can cover a ton of ground. pic.twitter.com/BVc2HPKaix
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) August 2, 2023

The Potential

Just based on his recruiting rankings, most will consider Miles Walker an under-the-radar recruit whose scholarship offers mean that he is loaded with potential but maybe didn’t show it enough as a high schooler to get as noticed as other linemen. Playing in Connecticut probably didn’t help.

The clips in this piece are all from his junior season, but they show a player with size and good strength for somebody probably in his 270s at the time. He is constantly moving his feet and staying on balance. Walker is going to grow every day as a pass blocker. He has basically been dropped into a foreign country but will pick up the language quickly.

There's plenty to like about Miles Walker as a pass protector. pic.twitter.com/CQyZAKHAl7
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) August 2, 2023

The Expectations

Barring anything unforeseen, this is going to be a redshirt year for Miles Walker. The Buckeyes already have a number of tackles, and four or five of them are already competing for a starting job. That’s going to leave Walker on the outside looking in this year, but he has apparently done a solid job of keeping up.

This year may provide an opportunity for him to grow on scout team, which will pit him against defensive ends like JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. He will have no choice but to get better. It will be a fantastic experience, even if it doesn’t always feel like it as it is happening.

The Buckeyes may return their starting tackles in 2024, but that won’t keep anybody from competing for a starting job. Offensive line coach Justin Frye is always going to be looking for his top five. Whenever Walker gets there, he’ll have the adaptability to play a number of different spots.

Miles Walker should be able to do a number of things in the run game and screen game for the #Buckeyes. pic.twitter.com/W9WpXtFDmQ
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) August 2, 2023

The Bottom Line

It’s generally not fair to expect an offensive lineman to win a starting job until around their third year in the system. As Justin Frye said to his players this offseason, the first year is when a lineman is learning how to play college football. The second year is when he figures out how to play his position. The third year is when he actually plays his position. That’s a generalization, but it’s a generalization for a reason.

The bottom line is that Miles Walker has the kind of agility that will allow him to do more than the typical offensive lineman. He can be involved at the point of attack, or be used in mis-directions. Walker has the mobility to handle middle screens, but can also get out wide to help clean up other blocking assignments outside the hashes. The weight and strength will come in time, but the framework is very solid.

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