Elite 2018 QB Allan Walters Recaps SEC Visits, Praises Jim Harbaugh's 'QB Mind'

Recent visits into SEC territory continued to alter the collegiate outlook of promising sophomore passer Allan Walters, a New Jersey standout who's drawn interest from universities across America.

The 2018 Paramus Catholic High School recruit, rated No. 6 nationally among pro-style quarterbacks in his class by 247Sports, spent the past two weekends at Ole Miss and Alabama, respectively. Walters received scholarship offers from both programs last summer, so this latest Southeast trek presented an opportunity to further explore each option.

Ole Miss welcomed Walters to Oxford for the first weekend of April, establishing itself as a strong contender in this hotly contested recruitment.

"I loved Ole Miss. I loved it a lot actually," he told Bleacher Report. "[Quarterbacks coach Dan] Werner and [head coach Hugh] Freeze were so welcoming and there's a family atmosphere there. They preach to their kids about being great men off the field as well. I really appreciated that. I loved everything with football, the coaching staff, and off the field there."

Ole Miss is coming off an explosive offensive campaign. Incumbent starter Chad Kelly—a senior—broke or tied 14 single-season school records in 2015, according to Daniel Paulling of the Clarion Ledger, including passing yards (4,042).

Freeze further enhanced his passing attack by signing 5-star quarterback Shea Patterson this past winter. The IMG Academy product, rated No. 1 overall among 2016 prospects at the position, earned MVP honors in the Elite 11 finals and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Patterson enrolled at Ole Miss in January, providing him with early perspective and experience within the program. He shared some initial thoughts on the Rebels during a conversation with Walters.

"Shea said it's a special place and it's really a family there. They care about you," Walters said. "It would be a great opportunity, if he gets the starting role, learning under him for a year or two and then taking over the reins."

Like Walters, Patterson was heavily pursued by the Crimson Tide. Alabama ultimately failed to flip him from an Ole Miss commitment but it's managed to make a strong impression on the young Garden State gunslinger.

Walters traveled to Tuscaloosa for the final weekend of March. He noticed a contrast in environment between SEC rivals.

"It's a different feel than Ole Miss. You get more of a business feel," Walters said. "They're going to get the best out of their players regardless. Day in and day out, it's going to be hard, you're going to work and be pushed to your full ability. You have to have a certain type of mindset for that. Obviously it's paying off with four national championships in seven years."

The reigning College Football Playoff champs identified him among early 2018 targets who warranted an offer, which is substantial when you consider the selective nature of Alabama's approach at quarterback. He caught a glimpse of what it takes to earn starting reps in coordinator Lane Kiffin's offense by chatting with Blake Barnett, Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell.

Each member of this trio is battling for first-team reps in Tuscaloosa. There has been constant competition at quarterback since Kiffin joined Nick Saban's staff in 2014, with seniors Blake Simms and Jake Coker claiming the starting spot in successive seasons.

"It will be interesting to see how this quarterback battle plays out since it's the third one in three years," Walters said.

The current Crimson Tide passers further solidified his sentiment about Alabama's team atmosphere.

"Again, they said Alabama is different in terms of how hard you're going to work. It's going to be a grind but in the end, if you stay focused and do the right things, it's going to pay off for you," Walters said.

Alabama and Ole Miss are in line to receive return visits from Walters this summer, he said. Michigan is also firmly in the mix for future travel plans, solidly situated as a potential landing spot.

Wolverines assistant Chris Partridge was his head coach at Paramus Catholic in 2014 and played a pivotal role in the program's ability to land six New Jersey signees earlier this year.

"I probably don't have a better relationship with any coaching staff in the country," Walters said. "I'm so close with the Michigan coaching staff. Obviously, Coach Partridge is there and [passing game coordinator Jedd] Fisch is a great guy who I can connect to so easy. It's a very enjoyable staff and they're doing special things there, so I'm going to keep building that relationship with them."

Paramus Catholic defensive lineman Rashan Gary, rated No. 1 overall in the 2016 recruiting cycle, was actually with Walters during his discussion with B/R. Months away from enrollment at Michigan, he's become a key resource for the quarterback as recruiting pressure mounts.

"Rashan is one of my best friends so he gives me advice like every day," Walters said. "He kind of regrets his [recruitment] lagging out so long, so he says to try to get it over with early and enjoy it while it lasts. Obviously being around a great player like him has been fun and enjoyable, so I'm learning a lot from him."

Wolverines fans surely hope Gary's presence on the roster can provide further motivation for Walters to join him in Ann Arbor. He's already heaping praise toward head coach Jim Harbaugh, who led his alma mater to 10 victories during an inaugural campaign last season.

"There's no better quarterback mind in the country," Walters said. "He's a different type of coach but that's the special thing about him. He's going to push you physically and mentally, especially at the quarterback position because he knows what it takes to be successful at the college level."

Harbaugh, who starred behind center with the Wolverines before his lengthy NFL career, signed U.S. Army All-American Player of the Year finalist Brandon Peters in the 2016 cycle. He landed a commitment from top-ranked 2017 quarterback Dylan McCaffrey in February, bolstering Michigan's long-term depth chart at the position.

While the Wolverines have secured a blue-chip 2017 passer, Alabama and Ole Miss are still in search. The Crimson Tide lost 4-star Jake Fromm last month when he flipped to Georgia.

In either situation, Walters feels comfortable approaching his recruitment the same. He won't allow the developments of an accelerating 2017 cycle to dictate how he handles his approach toward signing day 2018. 

"It's not really something I take into consideration too much. Regardless of where I go, I know I'll have to compete," Walters said. "I'm a kid who loves to work hard and enjoys competition. That's what I do every day. I like having great players around me because it pushes all of us."

His travel itinerary is likely wrapped up for the spring, though Walters wouldn't rule out a trip within driving distance such as Maryland or in-state Rutgers. He hopes to have a collegiate decision finalized before the start of his junior season but won't restrict himself to that timeline.

Walters, who measured in at approximately 6'2 ½", 200 pounds at Alabama, aims to build off a sophomore campaign that included 1,579 passing yards and 17 touchdown tosses in just six full games.

Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.