2025 5-star LB Zayden Walker visits Florida State

Ellaville (Ga.) Schley County 2025 five-star linebacker Zayden Walker is one of the most coveted prospects in America early on in the 2025 cycle. He’s the nation’s top linebacker and ranks No. 9 overall in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Walker is in the midst of a busy four-week stretch in which he has planned out visits to four different schools around the Southeast. He visited Georgia last weekend (January 13) before landing in Tallahassee this weekend (January 20) to see Florida State. Trips to Miami (January 27) and South Carolina (February 3) are on deck.

Five-star LB @ZaydenWalker3 here for #FSU Jr Day. pic.twitter.com/KwsR9dUkU4

— Warchant.com (@Warchant) January 20, 2024

Walker narrowed his list of top schools down to six in November, a group that includes Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, South Carolina, Penn State and Miami.

“The relationships were big,” he told On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons of his top schools in November. “How the schools recruited me and made me feel wanted also factored in. My visits were important also.”

Walker has visited Georgia over 10 times. Florida State has had him on campus around eight times. He has visited Alabama four times and Miami twice. Walker’s brother, Jalewis Solomon, is a four-star athlete signed to South Carolina.

Once he takes these visits, Walker is looking to take official visits next, likely in the summer. However, a commitment is not expected any time soon, though he doesn’t have a date in mind.

“I don’t really want to put a date on my commitment because I will just do it when I feel I am ready. I am looking into everything a school has to offer because it has to be a great fit for me on and off the field.”

Georgia battling FSU, others for Walker

Georgia has been heavily involved in Walker’s recruitment right alongside Florida State, with Walker visiting Athens more than any other school. Walker told DawgsHQ that he has been building a relationship with Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann as well as head coach Kirby Smart.

“It’s a great visit every time I go,” Walker told DawgsHQ earlier this week. “It feels more and more like home every time.”

Georgia is currently the favorite to land Walker with an 80.5% chance according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.