Brady Walker and Drew Saxton spent the fall months etching their names in the record books as two of the top passers in WPIAL history.
They will spend the next month figuring out where they will play in college.
Gateway’s Walker and South Fayette’s Saxton are two of the WPIAL’s top uncommitted players. Walker closed his career as the third-leading passer in WPIAL history and Saxton the sixth. The Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 picks and all-state selections hope to sign their letter of intent on national signing day Feb. 7.
Here’s where both stand in their recruitments heading into this weekend:
Walker, who led Gateway to the WPIAL Class 5A title and PIAA championship game, is being recruited by Division II schools and holds seven scholarship offers. He said his favorite schools are Seton Hill, West Virginia State, Clarion and Fairmont State. He has visits scheduled for later this month to Seton Hill and West Virginia State, and also hopes to visit the other two. His other offers are from West Virginia Wesleyan, Glenville State and Wheeling Jesuit.
“It’s a tough decision. I need to go on a couple of visits and go from there,” Walker said.
Saxton is likely headed to a Division III school. Case Western Reserve could be the team to beat. Saxton visited the school and spoke highly of the program, campus and academics. It’s no lock he will go there, though. Saxton will visit Washington & Jefferson this weekend and John Carroll later this month. Grove City is also showing interest.
Walker threw for 8,816 yards and 85 touchdowns in his career and Saxton 7,452 yards and 94 touchdowns. With those numbers, the question is why aren’t they being recruited by bigger schools? The answer is height, or rather lack of it. Both are only 6 feet, which isn’t ideal in the eyes of Division I coaches.
“The size is the biggest thing coaches have taken notice of,” Saxton said. “Lots of coaches from bigger schools say the size isn’t what they want. It’s understandable. Not that you have to have size, but it helps. Obviously, [Oklahoma’s] Baker Mayfield is doing it. I know I could play at a bigger level. I know I have other things that put me above having size, but I have a lot of great opportunities ahead of me.”
Walker echoed those sentiments, and like Saxton said he is grateful for the opportunities he does have.
“I know I’m a little undersized, but I think I could play at least at the Division I-AA level,” Walker said. “It is what it is. I will get my scholarship and my education and be very happy.”
Guss update
Another of the WPIAL’s top senior quarterbacks, Quaker Valley senior Ricky Guss, will likely play linebacker in college. Guss has an offer from Slippery Rock, and some FCS and Division II schools are interested. He plans on visiting Duquesne later this month. Robert Morris is another local school that is showing interest.
Commitments
• South Fayette senior football player Mikey Speca to Holy Cross.
• Upper St. Clair senior football player Dante Grecco to Case Western Reserve.
• Upper St. Clair senior football player Kahlil Jackson to Edinboro.
First Published: January 3, 2018, 1:15 p.m.
