Cass Tech 2016 LB Tim Walton commits to Illinois

DETROIT - No one knew of Tim Walton when he played for Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) Brother Rice, two years ago. He lacked exposure, and playing time. Granted, he was only a sophomore at the time, and was battling injuries, not to mention, he was playing for one of the best programs in the state, so the competition was stiff. Fast forward two years later, and Walton is one of the top linebackers on the state, for football powerhouse, Detroit Cass Tech. His patience and hard work has paid off in a major way.

"Starting off at Rice, it was tough," Walton said. "I really didn't get any exposure, and I struggled with my spiritual, thinking if I really was going to be able to play this game at the next level, and if I was going to be able to take it all the way. So we (family) talked about it, and made the decision to move to Cass Tech.

"I came here last year, and I was able to play varsity, and even was able to start sometimes. It was a great opportunity, and it had made my family happy. I have no regrets moving from Brother Rice to Cass, and I wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for Coach Wilcher, and my Cass Tech coaches."

Cass Tech had its annual Green and White scrimmage today on their home field, and during halftime, Wilcher allowed Walton to hold a small ceremony to choose what school he would spend the next four years at, ultimately choosing Illinois over a host of Mid-American Conference schools. Just last week, Walton said that he didn't know exactly where he wanted to go. Or was he just telling us that?

"I knew it was Illinois the day I had went down there, which was my third time going down there," he said about his most recent visit to Illinois. "My coach and my family told me to look for key things, and it just felt right. They have the major that I want, which is psychology, and it's a great school and great opportunity for me. God was telling me that this was my school."

Walton landed the offer from Illinois back on June 23, which also happened to be his biggest offer, and only one from a Power Five conference. It would be difficult for any high school football player to turn down the opportunity to play in the Big Ten over a less competitive conference, but that is not why Walton chose the Fighting Illini.

"No sir, that wasn't a factor," Walton said on Illinois being his only Big Ten offer. "For me, having a father who came from a MAC school, and still went to the pros, that was definitely not a factor for me, because I knew that I could go to any of those schools, and it would be a good opportunity for me. The University of Illinois was right for me.

"I narrowed it down to Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Illinois, Bowling Green, and Navy. So after a long process of trying to see what school I was going to go to, I felt that Illinois was the right one."

Illinois isn't exactly playing a high level of football at the moment, with the 2011 campaign being their last season with a winning record. But that doesn't phase Walton, who is thinking way beyond the football field, and is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. He wants to major in psychology, which takes a pretty intelligent person to do so, and to excel in it.

"I was really impressed with the academic portion that Illinois brought to me," he said. "There is life after football, and told the coaches that I felt comfortable here, and that I could see myself playing football here, and that I was going to commit today. I'm going to major in psychology and hopefully it will take me far."

For all that Walton has been through in his young life, and career as a football player, he takes his inspiration from his father, Tim Sr., who played in the NFL from 1989-1995, for the Lions, Bengals, and Eagles. He looks to follow in his father's footsteps as an athlete, and most importantly as a man, which impresses the elder Walton the most. He has seen his son's growth as a young man, and a football player firsthand, and believes he can go further than he did in the sport.

"What time has that I didn't have, is that he is starting to watch film more, said Tim Walton Sr. "I personally was a guy that didn't think film was where it was at, but my son right now is watching more film, and even after today's game, is going with Coach Parker (Cass Tech defensive coordinator) to watch film, so I think that the difference for him than when I was playing was the education of the game. I think what Tim is doing, learning the game on film, has been a great tool to his success."

With his commitment to Illinois, Walton became the fourth senior at Cass Tech to commit to a Division I program, and third player to the Big Ten, joining Michael Onwenu (Michigan), and Demetric Vance (Michigan State). Many are expecting another successful year on the gridiron for Cass Tech, who currently has 17 players on their roster with at least one Division I offer. Having athletes like that doesn't always equal automatic success, but Walton thinks otherwise.

"We are going to have a great year," he said. "It's still the beginning, and we have a lot more work to do, but we are getting ready for August 29."

Cass Tech plays Southfield (Mich.) in the Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State that day. The Technicians edged the Bluejays, 18-14, in the same event two years ago.