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IrishEnvy recently hooked up with incoming recruit Darrin Walls, a 6 foot, 172 pound defensive back (with 4.4 speed to boot) out of Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh. Like the City of Pittsburgh, Darrin embodies hard work, toughness and the desire to acheive.
Heavily recruited by most major Division I powerhouses including rivals Michigan and Ohio State, Walls choose Notre Dame without even making an official visit. Looking to make his mark at Notre Dame both on the field and inside the classroom, Darrin was kind enough to answer a few questions for the members here at IrishEnvy. We hope you enjoy the Q&A as much as we enjoyed doing it.
Paired with fellow incoming recruit Raeshon McNeil out of North Carolina, it looks like Notre Dame is on course to have an amazing secondary within the next couple years. Go Irish!
Heavily recruited by most major Division I powerhouses including rivals Michigan and Ohio State, Walls choose Notre Dame without even making an official visit. Looking to make his mark at Notre Dame both on the field and inside the classroom, Darrin was kind enough to answer a few questions for the members here at IrishEnvy. We hope you enjoy the Q&A as much as we enjoyed doing it.
IrishEnvy: What got you involved in football?
Darrin Walls: Ummm... I really didn't like football when I was 6-7, my dad dropped me off at practice, and I ran to the playground. When he came back he asked the coaches how did I do, and they said they didn't even see me. So the next couple of weeks, he stayed, and it became natural.
IrishEnvy: If we mentioned your name to your High School Coach, what is the first thing he'd say about you?
Darrin Walls: Does well in class.
IrishEnvy: A lot of recruiting gurus have labeled you as a "shutdown" corner. Does this cause any unnecessary pressure on you or do you welcome these lofty expectations with open arms?
Darrin Walls: It is a lot of pressure because high school receivers and college receivers are very different in a lot of areas. They could've labeled me a shut down corner in high school, but once you get to college, that name is gone until one proves they can be called a shut-down corner. That is something that I have to earn.
IrishEnvy: What is the most important attribute needed to play the cornerback position?
Darrin Walls: Technique and speed combined.
IrishEnvy: Is there anyone at your position that you study and mold your game after?
Darrin Walls: Charles Woodson is my favorite player, but I love the way Michael Huff plays as a DB.
IrishEnvy: A big deal is made in the media that Notre Dame entrance requirements are too high for elite athletes. Do you believe this? Did you encounter any obstacles in getting accepted at Notre Dame?
Darrin Walls: I believe that Notre Dame takes players who fit their criteria. And that is men who loves football, who are smart in the classroom, and is a family man. If you don't fit that, than you're not an ND player.
They go after guys who will succed in the classroom, also on the field. Scholarships aren'tanything to waste, so if a player wants to go ND, it is all on them, not ND. You have to set the bar some where, and ND bars are set HIGH. But me, No I didn't face any obstacles to get accepted to Notre Dame.
IrishEnvy: Are you doing any recruiting for the next incoming class? Who have you been talking to?
Darrin Walls: The only recruiting I have been doing, was on Toney Clemons. I really haven't been on any other guys.
IrishEnvy: What goals have you set for yourself to accomplish during your freshman season?
Darrin Walls: My goals are to work as hard as I can, and earn as much playing time as possible.
IrishEnvy: Do you have any pre-game rituals? How do you prepare for games?
Darrin Walls: I do not have any pre-game rituals. I just try to be consistent on what I do every week. Preparing for games is a week long process, going over the playbook, watching film on the other team, and practicing hard.
IrishEnvy: When your Irish football career is over, how do you want to be remembered?
Darrin Walls: I want to be remembered as that kid who came from Pittsburgh, and was the best corner/kick returner at ND, who was an Academic All-American.
Wow, is this kid great or what? Honestly, what more could you want from an incoming recruit? Walls hasn't even put on the storied Golden Helmet and ran down the tunnel yet, but he is already moving up our favorite Irish player list.Darrin Walls: Ummm... I really didn't like football when I was 6-7, my dad dropped me off at practice, and I ran to the playground. When he came back he asked the coaches how did I do, and they said they didn't even see me. So the next couple of weeks, he stayed, and it became natural.
IrishEnvy: If we mentioned your name to your High School Coach, what is the first thing he'd say about you?
Darrin Walls: Does well in class.
IrishEnvy: A lot of recruiting gurus have labeled you as a "shutdown" corner. Does this cause any unnecessary pressure on you or do you welcome these lofty expectations with open arms?
Darrin Walls: It is a lot of pressure because high school receivers and college receivers are very different in a lot of areas. They could've labeled me a shut down corner in high school, but once you get to college, that name is gone until one proves they can be called a shut-down corner. That is something that I have to earn.
IrishEnvy: What is the most important attribute needed to play the cornerback position?
Darrin Walls: Technique and speed combined.
IrishEnvy: Is there anyone at your position that you study and mold your game after?
Darrin Walls: Charles Woodson is my favorite player, but I love the way Michael Huff plays as a DB.
IrishEnvy: A big deal is made in the media that Notre Dame entrance requirements are too high for elite athletes. Do you believe this? Did you encounter any obstacles in getting accepted at Notre Dame?
Darrin Walls: I believe that Notre Dame takes players who fit their criteria. And that is men who loves football, who are smart in the classroom, and is a family man. If you don't fit that, than you're not an ND player.
They go after guys who will succed in the classroom, also on the field. Scholarships aren'tanything to waste, so if a player wants to go ND, it is all on them, not ND. You have to set the bar some where, and ND bars are set HIGH. But me, No I didn't face any obstacles to get accepted to Notre Dame.
IrishEnvy: Are you doing any recruiting for the next incoming class? Who have you been talking to?
Darrin Walls: The only recruiting I have been doing, was on Toney Clemons. I really haven't been on any other guys.
IrishEnvy: What goals have you set for yourself to accomplish during your freshman season?
Darrin Walls: My goals are to work as hard as I can, and earn as much playing time as possible.
IrishEnvy: Do you have any pre-game rituals? How do you prepare for games?
Darrin Walls: I do not have any pre-game rituals. I just try to be consistent on what I do every week. Preparing for games is a week long process, going over the playbook, watching film on the other team, and practicing hard.
IrishEnvy: When your Irish football career is over, how do you want to be remembered?
Darrin Walls: I want to be remembered as that kid who came from Pittsburgh, and was the best corner/kick returner at ND, who was an Academic All-American.
Paired with fellow incoming recruit Raeshon McNeil out of North Carolina, it looks like Notre Dame is on course to have an amazing secondary within the next couple years. Go Irish!
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