Walton favors one program

Dustin Walton is trying to figure out the recruiting process but also get prepared for his senior season so the Raton, N.M., pro-style quarterback is taking his time to see which programs are still interested as the summer winds down.

New Mexico has emerged as the leader for Walton, a 6-foot-4, 223-pound two-star prospect who threw for 3,381 yards with 39 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his junior season.

"I'm a little more interested in New Mexico," Walton said. "They're going in the right direction. I don't know right now. I'm really just trying to focus on the season and get out a little more game tape and hopefully a couple more schools come in, maybe even a school I haven't even considered or talked to yet. I am graduating early so I plan to make a decision here in the next month.

"(New Mexico) has a great recruiting class coming in, they had a couple transfers coming in and I just think coach David Reaves coming in as quarterbacks coach, he's worked with a lot of guys, so he knows what he's doing. A lot of people respect how coach (Mike) Locksley recruits so I think he can turn the program around."

A few schools have been eliminated. Colorado State recently received a commitment from Texas quarterback Conner Smith so it has been cut. New Mexico State is trailing because it already has a quarterback commit as well.

Walton, rated as the sixth-best prospect in the Rocky Mountain state rankings by Rivals.com, took an unofficial visit to Alabama but after four-star Phillip Ely committed the Crimson Tide are out.

The New Mexico prospect also wants to contact UCLA because his friend, four-star prospect Brett Hundley, could be close to a decision between the Bruins and Washington and if Hundley picks the Huskies then Walton wants UCLA's coaches to know he's interested.

At this point, Walton is focused on starting his senior season off well and hoping some more options become available. He's trying to balance the recruiting process with playing well and since Walton is graduating early he hopes to make a commitment within a few weeks.

"I'm just trying to focus on the season, prepare for the season, and I'm not really focused on the recruiting process right now," Walton said. "I want to get a few games in, maybe send out some more film and see if I could get a couple more offers and then make a decision within the next month or so."