The first Wednesday of February is an anxious time for college football programs across the nation. Coaches anxiously wait by fax machines to see if the hours they spent pouring over videos and stats paid off with new recruits. .
Wayne State University head football coach Paul Winters can breathe a little easier today after announcing his 2010 recruiting class of 17 incoming freshman.
One of those incoming college freshmen is Ben Walker, who resides in Oxford, but has attended Lake Orion Schools his entire life.
Walker, a senior at Lake Orion High School, signed his national letter of intent to play offensive tackle for Coach Winters and the Warriors.
‘Overall, it was the right fit. I like the coaches, they have a good education and an opportunity to play,? said Walker.
‘We’re very excited about him and we think he is going to have a great career,? said Winters.
Walker was a two-year starter at right tackle for Lake Orion. He first played football in sixth grade for a community league. He also played while attending Oakview Middle School.
‘He is a great football player,? said Lake Orion head coach Chris Bell. ‘He is very hard working and athletic for a big guy…he’s a very intelligent player, which comes over into the classroom. He’s a very good student and his academics opened up a lot of doors and scholarships for him,? he added.
Bell also noted that Walker was mature and showed great leadership, which was why he was named as one of his teams captains. He said that Walker was ‘everything you look for in a high school football player.?
Walker, the son of Rocky and Patty Walker, will play in the Michigan High School Football All-Star Game June 19 at Michigan State University.
His decision came down to three schools, Wayne State, Saginaw Valley State University and Grand Valley State University.
His recruiting process intensified when he attend a camp at Wayne State in July of 2009. Coach Winters previously looked at videos of Walker for two years prior to the camp.
Winters said that it was Walker’s ability that stood out to him. ‘His ability was outstanding. As an offensive lineman, he has the ability to bend his knees and has good feet.?
Walker said that his high school coaches prepared him well for college. ‘I’m really excited and definitely fortunate that I was able to play under the coaches I had at Lake Orion,? he said.
While attending Wayne State, Walker will be studying kinesiology.