Judge Memorial senior football star Lewis Walker now knows what they are talking about. His story illustrates how cold and heartless the recruiting process can be, although he acknowledges - as does Judge coach James Cordova - that he shares a good portion of the blame in the matter.
While other highly recruited football stars will be signing national letters of intent a month from today, Walker's future is still unknown, mostly due to his own indecision and some lack of communication from his hometown team - the University of Utah.
"My eyes have been opened [to the recruiting process], that's for sure," he said.
From the time he was a sophomore and attended a talent combine at their campus, Walker has been on the radar of Utah football coaches. Last spring, Utah coaches offered the Judge cornerback, running back and kick returner a scholarship.
They even presented a letter to Walker saying as much, with one caveat: "You have an offer as long as one is available."
If Walker knew then what he knows now, he would have committed on the spot and told Colorado, Washington and other schools that were expressing interest to hit the road.
That's a big if. Walker took a chance, and lost.
With the offers that seemed like they would go on forever drying up after a solid though unspectacular senior season, Walker called Utah assistant coach Gary Andersen in late November and said he would take Utah's offer tendered some eight months prior.
"Coach Andersen said, 'Actually there is nothing here for you anymore,' '' Walker said.
Of course, college coaches cannot publicly comment on recruits until they have signed, per NCAA rules. However, through various sources and Cordova, Utah's side of the matter has emerged.
The Utes simply felt like they couldn't wait any longer for Walker to commit, and when other prospects similar in size, speed and position gave their pledge, the Judge star's offer was withdrawn. Schools have a maximum of 25 scholarships to give out, and they obviously must spread them out over a bunch of positions.
"Usually, it's the first to accept [that gets the scholarship], unless you are a blue-chip, can't-miss guy," Cordova said. "Of course, all of [the colleges] make you feel like you are their first choice. . . . There's a little more both sides could have done."
The Utes probably should have given Walker the heads up months ago that other guys were in the picture; Walker probably should have kept better track of what was going on up on the hill.
Utah coaches have told Walker he can walk on and maybe earn a scholarship if one becomes available, and sources said Andersen has gone out of his way to try to find Walker a spot somewhere else.
Friday, Walker said all is not lost. He will make an official campus visit to Hawaii on Jan. 18, although the Warriors have not offered yet. Utah State has also expressed some interest.
"It doesn't bug me anymore," he said. "Things happen for a reason, I guess. They [Utah coaches] have to do what they have to do."
drew@sltrib.com
