Valient Walsh to play football at Illinois State University
By FRED KRONER
It’s not everyone who plays football for the Mahomet-Seymour program who will get the chance to wear uniform No. 17.
Bulldog head coach Jon Adkins has a special reverence for that number, the one he wore as a high schooler in Charleston.
Adkins had a viable candidate the past two seasons: wide receiver Valient Walsh.
“I don’t let just anyone wear that number,” Adkins said. “That number was special to me. Val wore No. 17 because he is exactly the kid that I want our program to be known for: Great leader and great person.”
He could have added another description: Great player.
Walsh and senior classmate Quenton Rogers teamed up to form one of the top receiving duos in M-S history. The two teammates combined for 103 receptions and 1,634 receiving yards during the 2022 season.
They are the third Bulldog duo to team up for more than 100 catches in a season.
“We pushed each other as we both were very competitive and if one of us was covered, the other was open,” Walsh said.
For the 5-foot-9, 165-pound Walsh, the chance to continue playing the game came to fruition in January when he committed to signing a letter of intent to join Illinois State University as a preferred walk-on.
The jersey number that Walsh wore was important to him for reasons beyond sharing it with his varsity coach.
“I love the number 17,” he said. “It was my family number, and it will always be special to be No. 17.”
Football has been Walsh’s sport of choice for years.
“It has been a passion of mine my whole life,” said Walsh, whose introduction to football came as a third-grader.
He began to see the possibilities of playing beyond high school after a junior season when he averaged 16.5 yards per catch. It wasn’t wistful thinking, but hard and fast evidence.
“It became more realistic as I grew older and I had to message coaches a lot,” Walsh said. “I don’t know when it developed, but it just kind of always has been there for as long as I can remember.
“It has always been a goal; my dream my whole life. The competitive nature is what makes me love the game.”
As the recruiting process began to gain steam, Walsh had a university in mind where he could see himself.
“I had always wanted to play at ISU throughout my recruiting process,” he said, “and it ended up working that way.”
Through the years, Walsh has been involved with soccer, track and field and weightlifting, but added, “football has always been my main passion.”
He had a good start in the sport as a third-grader.
“I was pretty good, but still had to work very hard to get better,” he said.
Adkins can vouch for the effort that Walsh demonstrated with regularity.
“Val is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever had play for me in my coaching career,” Adkins said. “He has absolutely earned this opportunity that is before him and I’m so proud of him, and happy for him.
“We are certainly going to miss him, but wish him nothing but the best as he gears up for this new opportunity.”
Walsh was a two-year starter for M-S football teams that had 11-1 season records in both his junior and senior years. In four games as a senior, he had two receiving touchdowns.
His top single-game performance was a six-catch, 130-yard effort at Frank Dutton Field against Charleston.
He finds it difficult to single out specific highlights.
“I loved all the practices and home games,” Walsh said. “It was very memorable.”
The versatile Walsh was also the Bulldogs’ top kick-returner as a senior, averaging 23.5 yards per return and racing in excess of 90 yards twice for kick return TDs.
He scored 100 points for the season and was a first-team selection for the Apollo All-Conference honor squad.
Once he enrolls at ISU, Walsh will follow the same formula that worked so well for him during his high school career.
“I think I will fit in great,” he said. “I will work very hard and be able to display my abilities.”
Walsh said his work ethic is not solely responsible for his chance to suit up in college.
“I give all the credit of this to God,” Walsh said. “He is the reason I’m able to play the way I do.
“I give all my success to God as well. I play for him, and with him, all things came possible.”
Attending a college about 45 miles from his home will have benefits, Walsh believes.
“The fact I will be close to home is very nice,” he said. “Whenever I need something, I’m close to home.”
Walsh plans on majoring in exercise science.
“I want to get into the coaching/athletic trainer field,” he said.
Adkins knows where Walsh would be welcome on a coaching staff in the future.
“Maybe someday he will come back and be coaching on the Mahomet-Seymour sidelines,” Adkins said.
