Local QB reacts to UK offer
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Lafayette quarterback Walker Wood stole the spotlight from Jedrick Wills and Landon Young on Thursday. That's difficult to do.
The Class of 2017 dual-threat was offered by Kentucky as an athlete, which means he will get a first look at quarterback but the UK coaches feel confident he could succeed at another position as well.
So what kind of player is the 6-foot, 189-pound prospect from right in the Wildcats' backyard?
He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds, he could play quarterback or another skill position, he passed the 'test' that was UK's long-term evaluation -- but more than anything the Kentucky coaching staff liked some intangible qualities.
"I just think their whole staff likes my passion and my energy that I bring to the game," Wood told Cats Illustrated shortly after learning of UK's offer. "I think they like that I'm a versatile player. They like to see how I can extend plays, too."
Wood is a very different kind of quarterback than Mac Jones, Kentucky's 2017 commitment at the position.
He doesn't downplay the significance of the Cats' offer.
"I'm very excited," he said. "It's a great opportunity. UK's an awesome school. I've been going to UK games ever since I was little with my dad. I've been around them and I've really been starting to get to know the coaches this past year since I've been going over there with Landon and Jed a lot. I've really enjoyed my time over there. They have a lot of great coaches. I love Coach (Shannon) Dawson, the new offensive coordinator."
Wood said he would like to prove he can play quarterback in college, regardless of whether he ends up at Kentucky or somewhere else.
"As long as I get the opportunity, I'm okay," he said. "I definitely prefer quarterback. That's where my heart is. But once you're on a team it's a totally different story. You just want to help make an impact and help your team win."
Kentucky's coaches have known about Wood for a long time, but he said they really started to show more interest this past offseason. He attended the school's 7-on-7 passing tournament, which Lafayette actually won, and he was able to talk to the coaches.
"That was a really good time," he recalled. "Since then they've started showing a lot of interest."
John Schlarman is his area recruiter but because Wood is a quarterback he's also been hearing a lot from Dawson.
"I've built a relationship that's really good with both of them. I probably talk to both of them about the same amount," Wood said.
Wood has been Lafayette's starting quarterback since he was a freshman. He said that he's very close with both Young and Wills.
"Me and the guys on the offense are a very tight-knit group," he said. "We're definitely best buddies."
In the past Wood has been taking unofficial visits with Wills, his five-star classmate. Wood told Cats Illustrated he will continue to do that.
Quarterbacks often make very early commitments these days, but the UK staff didn't tell Wood they wanted to know his decision by a certain time. He's working under the assumption that he has as long as he needs to make his decision.
Louisville and Cincinnati are the other schools that have offered Wood. He visited Louisville over the summer and went to some basketball games in the Yum! Center very early this year. But he's been very busy lately and hasn't been able to make it to any of the Cards' games this fall.
