4-Star Kareem Walker Sets Commit Date: Is He a Lock to Michigan?

The nation’s top running back in the 2016 cycle will be off the board next week, as 4-star rusher Kareem Walker has set his announcement for Dec. 17, according to Steve Lorenz of Wolverine247.

The 6’1”, 210-pounder—who backed off an early pledge to Ohio State in November—is taking his final official visit to Arizona State this weekend.

Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Michigan were the other schools to host Walker for his remaining officials.

However, Michigan has been the presumed favorite since he reopened his process.

But is the No. 2 prospect from the Garden State and No. 38 player overall in the 2016 cycle a lock to head to Ann Arbor?

The Wolverines are still the heavy favorites to land Walker, but in recruiting, anything can happen—especially with the schools still in the running for him.

No school has cranked out as many quality running backs as Alabama over the last decade. Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is as tenacious a recruiter as there is, and his resume in grooming touted backs is as good as any coach's in the country.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn also employs a scheme that is friendly to running backs of Walker’s caliber.

The same could be said for FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher, who has developed studs such as Devonta Freeman, Karlos Williams and current star Dalvin Cook in recent years.

Additionally, the Sun Devils were recruiting him with vigor even when he was still committed to the Buckeyes.

As Ryan Bartow of 247Sports noted, Sun Devils offensive graduate assistant Ken Dillingham has made an impression on Walker during the process:

"

I really like coach Kenny. He’s a good guy. He’s always honest with me. Whether it’s with Arizona State or recruiting. You can ask him about other things and he’ll be 100 percent honest with you. Whether it's on the good side of Arizona State or bad side but he never really down-talks any school. Just being real on how the business goes.

"

With the Sun Devils getting the last crack at Walker before his announcement, they have an opportunity to make things interesting in the days leading up to a final decision.

However, as Lorenz detailed, there hasn’t been a clear-cut competitor that has emerged as the main threat to the Wolverines.

Harbaugh and his staff have done a great job of recruiting top talent from the state of New Jersey—with three current pledges among the state’s top 10 prospects currently bound for Ann Arbor.

The Wolverines are hoping to close out the class with Walker and 5-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary.

With Harbaugh’s pro-style, run-heavy offense and the pipeline the Wolverines have established from New Jersey to Ann Arbor, Walker has plenty of incentive to become the latest Garden State stud to cast his lot with the Wolverines.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.