'17 TX OT Walker Little (Stanford Verbal)

[BobbyMac]

Offensive Tackle
Bellaire, TX
Episcopal HS

Measurments:
6-7
301lbs

Rankings:

247 Comp ..... .............. #7 OT ..... #38 OA ..... .9800 ratings
247 ................ .......... #2 OT ..... #2 OA ........ 99 rating
Rivals ............. ......... #4 OT .......#24 OA ...... 6.1 rating
Scout ............. ......... #2 OT ...... #16 OA
ESPN .............. ............ #21 OT .... #161 OA ..... 82 rating

Offers:
Alabama
ASU
Arkansas
Auburn
Baylor
Cal
Florida
FSU
Houston
LSU
Maryland
Michigan
Mich St
Ole Miss
Mizzou
UNC
Northwestern
Oklahoma
Ok St
Rice
SMU
Stanford
TCU
Tennessee
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
UCLA
Vandy

Media Links:

Twitter - walkerlittle45

Walker Little - Hudl

Highlights:
<iframe src='//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/2913981/highlights/221082376' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[BobbyMac]

Notre Dame has been in contact and with the commitment of Jake Moretti to Ohio St and Mirko Jurkovic going to Georgia, ND may be looking at offering a few more O Lineman. A handful have recently popped up as interests on the services.

Little debuted at #83 OA on Rivals100 today. His teammate Marvin Wilson was #1.

.

 

[rtrn2glory]

very lean 300 pounds for a junior in high school

 

[connor_in]

His parents...I see what they did there...

Walker LITTLE...6 foot 7 inches 300 pounds

 

[BobbyMac]

This needed a bumping with the new 247 rankings be released.

So hear me out...

Foster Sarell is going to Stanford unless Washington can pull the rabbit out of the hat.

Trey Smith is going to Ole Miss.

Notre Dame is going to Austin a beating UT handily.

Walker Little just went to the Opening and balled out. 247 bumped him to #2 OA behind Sarell.

Walker's leaders are Stanford, Ole Miss and Texas.

Draw you own conclusions...


Updated rankings:

7-16-15

247 Comp..... ..... #25 OT ..... #174 OA ..... .9371 ratings

247................ ......... #31 OT .... #317 OT ...... 87 rating
Rivals............. ..... #8 OT .......#83 OA ........ 5.9 rating
Scout............. ..... #10 OT ..... #65 OA
ESPN.............. NR

7-13-16

247 Comp..... ............. #9 OT ..... #42 OA ..... .9763 ratings

247................ ......... #2 OT ..... #2 OA ........ 99 rating
Rivals............. ........ #4 OT .......#24 OA ...... 6.1 rating
Scout............. ............ #9 OT ..... #53 OA
ESPN............. ............ #21 OT .... #161 OA ..... 82 rating

 

[dad4aa]

Have we had any contact lately? Is it too late to try and get back in with him?

 

[johnnycando]

This needed a bumping with the new 247 rankings be released.

So hear me out...

Foster Sarell is going to Stanford unless Washington can pull the rabbit out of the hat.

Trey Smith is going to Ole Miss.

Notre Dame is going to Austin a beating UT handily.

Walker Little just went to the Opening and balled out. 247 bumped him to #2 OA behind Sarell.

Walker's leaders are Stanford, Ole Miss and Texas.

Draw you own conclusions...

So you are thinking Stanford gets Foster. We shitkick Texas out of contention. And Ole Miss chooses to ride the wave and still pay?

I guess if you're inferring something I clean missed it.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Love this kids film!!! He pancakes seventy percent the guys he blocks. A lot of fun to watch.

 

[BobbyMac]

Have we had any contact lately? Is it too late to try and get back in with him?

I'd normally say yes, it's too late for a guy of this caliber. But, he's a good student, He's probably behind both Sarell and Smith on Stanford and Ole Miss' boards respectively and Texas may have put the fire out but they ain't out of the dumpster yet. A head to head match up win usually means something in the recruiting world's eyes.

I don't know, what to say. I thought he was the best OT in the country last year when i started building profiles for my project. There was some early contact but his name being connected to ND went cold last summer when Smith, Thomas & Wills heated up.

I think I'm just posting this because all of the connections make it appear like there's a way to wiggle back in. Whether that's feasible or not, I have no idea.

 

[Irishnuke]

Has he even been offered?

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

Has he even been offered?

What I'm wondering too. With his ranking why hasn't he been offered? Maybe HH and staff know something foul about him or don't like his play for some reason.

 

[PANDFAN]

This needed a bumping with the new 247 rankings be released.

So hear me out...

Foster Sarell is going to Stanford unless Washington can pull the rabbit out of the hat.

Trey Smith is going to Ole Miss.

Notre Dame is going to Austin a beating UT handily.

Walker Little just went to the Opening and balled out. 247 bumped him to #2 OA behind Sarell.

Walker's leaders are Stanford, Ole Miss and Texas.

Draw you own conclusions...


Updated rankings:

7-16-15

247 Comp..... ..... #25 OT ..... #174 OA ..... .9371 ratings

247................ ......... #31 OT .... #317 OT ...... 87 rating
Rivals............. ..... #8 OT .......#83 OA ........ 5.9 rating
Scout............. ..... #10 OT ..... #65 OA
ESPN.............. NR

7-13-16

247 Comp..... ............. #9 OT ..... #42 OA ..... .9763 ratings

247................ ......... #2 OT ..... #2 OA ........ 99 rating
Rivals............. ........ #4 OT .......#24 OA ...... 6.1 rating
Scout............. ............ #9 OT ..... #53 OA
ESPN............. ............ #21 OT .... #161 OA ..... 82 rating

clemson is perceived to be the leader for Smith

on little, Wiltfong had posted that he could see Little taking a look at ND based on everything he has been told

 

[BobbyMac]

clemson is perceived to be the leader for Smith

on little, Wiltfong had posted that he could see Little taking a look at ND based on everything he has been told

I'll stick with Ole Miss. If immediate playing time at OT is as important to him as being reported, Clemson is a bad choice. He will not start over Hyatt or Fruhmorgan. If he wants to wait a year, Hyatt is gone after 3 barring injury.

 

[koonja]

247 came out with their new rankings. Thus kid is the #2 overall player in the country on their list. Really wish ND would offer this guy.

 

[GreyWorm]

247 came out with their new rankings. Thus kid is the #2 overall player in the country on their list. Really wish ND would offer this guy.

Why? Notre Dame has seen him work out multiple times and still hasn't offered.

You're putting more value into 247 rankings than one of the best offensive line coaches in the county. It's the same group of analysts that stated Tony Jones Jr. might have been the best RB at last year's Opening, yet dropped him from a four-star to a three-star based off seeing him workout in shorts.

 

[koonja]

Why? Notre Dame has seen him work out multiple times and still hasn't offered.

You're putting more value into 247 rankings than one of the best offensive line coaches in the county. It's the same group of analysts that stated Tony Jones Jr. might have been the best RB at last year's Opening, yet dropped him from a four-star to a three-star based off seeing him workout in shorts.

When he's that big, with that many offers, and was recently pushed to the top of the rankings, and apparently has interest in nd, I think HH should reconsider. I'd prefer nd offered.

 

[Southside Sully]

When he's that big, with that many offers, and was recently pushed to the top of the rankings, and apparently has interest in nd, I think HH should reconsider. I'd prefer nd offered.

You trust recruiting sites, over a former NFL OLine Coach, and a guy who has now sent multiple players to the league at ND? Noteably 2 first Rounders?

 

[NDty9]

Im sure this kid is a great player...

However, I dont know about you guys, but Offensive Line is one position i will NEVERRR question our recruiting strategy. Keep doing what you're doing HH !

 

[koonja]

You trust recruiting sites, over a former NFL OLine Coach, and a guy who has now sent multiple players to the league at ND? Noteably 2 first Rounders?

And the other 30 powers who have offered him, yes.

 

[condoms SUCk]

Im sure this kid is a great player...

However, I dont know about you guys, but Offensive Line is one position i will NEVERRR question our recruiting strategy. Keep doing what you're doing HH !

Yup totally understand where you are coming from, OL has been the most consistently recruited group for the past 4 years.

But I too wonder why ND hasn't offered this kid, it is rather perplexing.

 

[GBdomer]

Koon do you think we maybe never offered him because we had guys higher on the board like Smith, Sarrell and Willis or maybe he's just not interested at all in ND? Like joey bosa wasn't

 

[GreyWorm]

Notre Dame hasn't offered a lot of the top OL in the country by services in recent years. They are looking for fit versus rating.

Below are the top 10 guys on the OL the last two years ranked by 247 that DID NOT receive an ND offer and as you can see Notre Dame has remained consistent in looking for fit versus offering because 247/Rivals/Scout/ESPN rank kids high.

2016 Tackles
Jonah Williams - Alabama - 247 #2 OT, Rivals #2 OT
Landon Dickerson - FSU - 247 #4 OT, Rivals #1 OG
Landon Young - UK commit - 247 #6 OT, Rivals #3 OT
Darvis Holmes - Mizzou - 247 #9 OT, Rivals 3-star
Ben Cleveland - UGA - 247 #10 OT, Rivals #6 OG

2015 Tackles
Martez Ivey - UF - 247 #1 OT, Rivals #1 OT
Mitch Hyatt - Clemson - 247 #2 OT, Rivals #3 OT
Drew Richmond - Tenn - 247 #3 OT, Rivals #2 OT
Abdul Bello - FSU - 247 #4 OT, Rivals #29 OT
Chidi Valentine-Okeke - LSU - #5 OT, Rivals #38 OT
Toby Weathersby - LSU - 247 #6 OT, Rivals #7
Isaiah Prince - OSU - 247 #7 OT, Rivals, Page doesnt exist
Jack Jones - Tenn - 247 #9 OT, Rivals #6
Keenan Walker - Arizona - 247 #10 OT, Rivals #30

2016 Guards
Michael Menet - PSU - 247 #1 OG, Rivals #5 OG
Patrick Hudson - Texas - 247 #2 OG, Rivals #3 OG
Terrance Davis - Maryland - 247 #3 OG, Rivals #4 OG
Michael Onwenu - Michigan - 247 #4 OG, Rivals #7 OG
John Raridon - Nebraska - 247 #5 OG, Rivals #9 OG
Donavaughn Campbell - LSU - 247 #6 OG, Rivals #8 OG
John Simpson - Clemson - 247 #7 OG, Rivals #19 OG
Tyler Gerald - Ohio State - 247 #8 OG, Rivals #15 OG
Deonte Brown - Alabama - 247 #9 OG, Rivals #28 OG
Chris Owens - Alabama - 247 #10 OG, Rivals #25 OG

2015 Guards
Maea Teuhema - LSU - 247 #2 OG, Rivals #1 OG
Javon Patterson - Ole Miss - 247 #3 OG, Rivals #6 OG
Lester Cotton - Alabama - 247 #4 OG, Rivals # 3 OG
Richie Petitbon - Alabama - 247 #5 OG, Rivals #4 OG
Josh Wariboko - UCLA - 247 #6 OG, Rivals #8 OG
Jalin Barnett - Nebraska - 247 #8 OG, Rivals #25 OG
Kyonta Stallworth - MSU - 247 #9 OG, Rivals #24 OG
Tyler Carr - Auburn - 247 #10 OG, Rivals #7 OG

2016 Centers
Baveon Johnson - FSU - 247 #1 OC, Rivals #1 OC
Drake Jackson - UK - 247 #2 OC, Rivals #3 OC
Connor McGovern - Mizzou - 247 #3 OC, Rivals page not avail
Eli Johnson - Ole Miss - 247 #4 OC, Rivals #32 OG
Sean Auwae - Vandy - 247 #5 OC, Rivals #4 OC
Brett Heggie - Fla - 247 #6 OC, Rivals #5 OC
Kellton Hollins - TCU - 247 #7 OC, Rivals unranked
Trystan Castillo - Mizzou - 247 #8 OC, Rivals #37 OG
Matt Allen - MSU - 247 #9 OC, Rivals 2-star
Danny Godlevske - Miami (OH), 247 #10 OC, Rivals unranked

2015 Centers
Tristen Hoge was the #1 ranked center. No others were offered.



Just because 30 other "powers" are offering kids doesn't mean Notre Dame is going to offer as you can see by this list.

Notre Dame has landed their fair share of top ranked OL the last few years, but also offering the nation's elite isn't a trend they are just starting this year.

I think this year people might have forgot Notre Dame and Hiestand typically dont chase the big fish. 2017 is a deep year for offensive line and there are kids that have visited Notre Dame early and visited from far away on their own dime.

It's not saying Walker Little won't get an offer in the next few weeks or he isn't deserving of one, but more so the plan Notre Dame has in place. They haven't changed it since Hiestand got here, so why chance it now when OL recruiting is extremely good.

 

[BobbyMac]

That's all nice. Go back through that list now and find out how many had Stanford offers or Duke offers even. I could be crude and start calling out guys that if it weren't for football would have been students at Central C Student State.

Couple of things that immediately come to mind:

Hyatt didn't give many a chance to offer. He committed early in '14 and was an EE.

I see Matt Allen on the list which brings up a few things in my mind.

1. No Center was getting taken in '16 after Hoge in '15.

2. We tend to assign HH the coaching equivalent of Papal Infallibility but I'll remind everyone that he let the following top ranked college OG's for 2016 leave Chicagoland, none with an offer:

Johnny Caspers - Stanford,

Brian Allen - MSU,

Dan Feeney - Indiana.

Just imagine how good they would have been with his coaching, right?

Back to Walker Little. He's basically a better Josh Lugg right now. He's got the right offers that prove he checks the needed boxes. He may never get an offer, HH might have a secret metric that says why he shouldn't be offered but it sure isn't crazy to wonder why he didn't get offered.

Lastly, in regards to chasing the big fish... ND has offered 8 of 247's Top 11. They can't always go after the big fish because sometimes many of them are big dummies.

 

[GreyWorm]

That's all nice. Go back through that list now and find out how many had Stanford offers or Duke offers even. I could be crude and start calling out guys that if it weren't for football would have been students at Central C Student State.

Couple of things that immediately come to mind:

Hyatt didn't give many a chance to offer. He committed early in '14 and was an EE.

I see Matt Allen on the list which brings up a few things in my mind.

1. No Center was getting taken in '16 after Hoge in '15.

2. We tend to assign HH the coaching equivalent of Papal Infallibility but I'll remind everyone that he let the following top ranked college OG's for 2016 leave Chicagoland, none with an offer:

Johnny Caspers - Stanford,

Brian Allen - MSU,

Dan Feeney - Indiana.

Just imagine how good they would have been with his coaching, right?

Back to Walker Little. He's basically a better Josh Lugg right now. He's got the right offers that prove he checks the needed boxes. He may never get an offer, HH might have a secret metric that says why he shouldn't be offered but it sure isn't crazy to wonder why he didn't get offered.

Lastly, in regards to chasing the big fish... ND has offered 8 of 247's Top 11. They can't always go after the big fish because sometimes many of them are big dummies.

So what's your point? You make it a big deal about Notre Dame not offering the top guys, then state that most of them wouldn't get into Notre Dame, which I don't think is accurate. You do also realize that Notre Dame and every other school is going to develop kids that are going to be good and NFL caliber, much less they can't take 20 offensive lineman, so believe it or not, there are going to be good lineman produced at Indiana, Michigan State and Stanford.

You have a right to your opinion, but it's just funny to me to hear Heistand getting criticized for not offering a player (in July) Notre Dame watched workout and done their research on, when he has consistently brought in guys people are more than happy with.

I would get it if Little was from California, as you think every kid from California is the second coming of Jesus Christ, but he's from Texas, so I am a bit perplexed. If Notre Dame lands Sarell or Banks, then Little is out regardless.

 

[BobbyMac]

So what's your point? You make it a big deal about Notre Dame not offering the top guys, then state that most of them wouldn't get into Notre Dame, which I don't think is accurate.

You might want to go back and read this again. I didn't complain about ND not offering in this thread. I didn't say "most of them wouldn't get in". Go back and reread that also.

You do also realize that Notre Dame and every other school is going to develop kids that are going to be good and NFL caliber, much less they can't take 20 offensive lineman, so believe it or not, there are going to be good lineman produced at Indiana, Michigan State and Stanford.

So are you saying cultural fit, scheme and playing time are important in recruiting and then development??? Thank you.

You have a right to your opinion, but it's just funny to me to hear Heistand getting criticized for not offering a player (in July) Notre Dame watched workout and done their research on, when he has consistently brought in guys people are more than happy with

.

Go scold whoever criticized HH for not offering Little. Twasn't me.

I would get it if Little was from California, as you think every kid from California is the second coming of Jesus Christ, but he's from Texas, so I am a bit perplexed. If Notre Dame lands Sarell or Banks, then Little is out regardless.

Savage burn bro! ...and thanks for the tip on Sarell and Banks. I wouldn't have guessed that staff would take players they've offered over one they haven't. Recruiting's changed so much since my day.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Plan is to take 5, so not sure why getting one of our targets eliminates him automatically.

HH has been great, but he has cast too small a net the last two years. He hits on a pretty high percentage, but he needs to expand the list a little.

It may be he's not a fit in some other way or we were too confident in other kids.

 

[BobbyMac]

Plan is to take 5, so not sure why getting one of our targets eliminates him automatically.

HH has been great, but he has cast too small a net the last two years. He hits on a pretty high percentage, but he needs to expand the list a little.

It may be he's not a fit in some other way or we were too confident in other kids.

8 out of 247's Top 11 isn't that small of a net. When he had Sarell, Smith, Thomas and Wills following him around like puppies, i didn't think there was a chance he'd go 0-4. He's still in play on two officially. We'll see what happens.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I am a huge HH fan, so take this with a grain of salt...

8 out of 247's Top 11 isn't that small of a net.

Yes it is, IMHO. No one except Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, and whoever is coaching at USC or FSU (unless its UF's turn in the cycle) can just target the top guys, or the guys they want, across the country and expect to get what they want. That kid from Wisconsin last year is a good example of a kid who loves HH and ND, but also likes other things.

The problem is HH's effectiveness is tied to his laser focus and his no BS "you are who we want" attitude. So it's tough for him to recruit outside of his top tier.

When he had Sarell, Smith, Thomas and Wills following him around like puppies, i didn't think there was a chance he'd go 0-4. He's still in play on two officially. We'll see what happens.

LOL. Don't embarass a kid into going to Stanford!

Anyway, going 0-4 for 3 high 4-star OTs, when 3 are from the South (one of those from the deep South) and one is from the Pacific NW--none of whom are Irish profile kids even if they are good fits--is not suprising when you already have Lugg and Gibbons. And now you have Hainsey.

We'll see what happens.

Yes we will. Hope he gets one. But I don't understand why he wouldn't widen the nets a little at this point.

 

[Irish#1]

I am a huge HH fan, so take this with a grain of salt...



Yes it is, IMHO. No one except Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, and whoever is coaching at USC or FSU (unless its UF's turn in the cycle) can just target the top guys, or the guys they want, across the country and expect to get what they want. That kid from Wisconsin last year is a good example of a kid who loves HH and ND, but also likes other things.

The problem is HH's effectiveness is tied to his laser focus and his no BS "you are who we want" attitude. So it's tough for him to recruit outside of his top tier.



LOL. Don't embarass a kid into going to Stanford!

Anyway, going 0-4 for 3 high 4-star OTs, when 3 are from the South (one of those from the deep South) and one is from the Pacific NW--none of whom are Irish profile kids even if they are good fits--is not suprising when you already have Lugg and Gibbons. And now you have Hainsey.



Yes we will. Hope he gets one. But I don't understand why he wouldn't widen the nets a little at this point.

I think with another year or two of putting guys into the NFL, it will make it easier for HH to reel in a 5 star that he wants. He's really just beginning to build his reputation at ND for getting guys into the NFL.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I think with another year or two of putting guys into the NFL, it will make it easier for HH to reel in a 5 star that he wants. He's really just beginning to build his reputation at ND for getting guys into the NFL.

Easier, sure, but nobody gets every 5-star they want at any position (except UGA with RBs)! Especially at O-Line where you are dealing with smarter kids and you need to build so much depth that it makes the depth chart look intimidating.

I think ideally every year you try to get 4, and I kind of like a blend like this:

- 1 x high 4-star/5-star stud (Stanley, Nelson, Kraemer)
- 1 x 4 star sure thing (Bars, Hoge, Eichenburg, Lugg, Hainsey)
- 1 x 4 star high-ceiling development project (McGlinchy...)
- 1 x 3-4 mauler/heart kid (Reuland, Gibbons)

If you offer too many in the "sure thing" group, you're fine. Also if you replace the heart or project kid with slower developing 4-star talent (Biven, McGovern-types) you're fine too, as long as you keep the overall level of nasty up.