Walker building momentum

Ricky Walker's recruitment has been picking up momentum lately. Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and Boston College are the most recent offers the Hampton (Va.) Bethel defensive tackle has picked up.

"It started on Facebook with Georgia Tech," said the 6-foot-2, 270-pound Walker. "The coach told me to fax him my transcript and call him later so I could talk with the staff. After school I called him and talked to everyone. They liked everything and Coach Johnson came through with the offer.

"Atlanta is a great city," he said. "I think they've been to the ACC championship three times. The offense is tough for a defensive lineman like me but it's a great academic school and they have great coaches."

Later in the day the Badgers pulled the trigger.

"My coach was sending out some of my film over the weekend and Wisconsin was one of the first schools to reply and say they were interested," Walker said. "Coach Beatty is from around here and he coached Percy Harvin at Landstown High School. He was saying that he is trying to bring the talent from this area up to Wisconsin. He said my film is great and he wants me to be a part of another team to win a Rose Bowl. The weather up there isn't really going to make a difference to me because I'm from Pittsburgh so I'm used to it."

Plenty of schools are competing for Walker's commitment.

"Georgia Tech is on me a lot," he said. "So is Maryland, North Carolina and Penn State. Those schools are staying in close contact but I also receive a lot of mail.

"Hopefully Tennessee or Duke will offer me next," said Walker. "They both seem like they are very close to it."

Walker has set up a few visits for this offseason.

"Hopefully next weekend we'll go to Tennessee for a spring practice," he said. "On March 23 I think I'm going to Penn State for a spring practice and on April 6 I'm going to Virginia to watch my brother, Rijo Walker, play in their spring game.

Fourteen schools have offer Walker.