NORMAL, Ill. – ISU head coach Brock Spack and his staff bolstered the 2023 Illinois State football recruiting class Wednesday, with the announcement of nine new players joining the Redbird roster for 2023. Combined with the 25 players announced during the early signing period in December, a total of 34 new players have joined the ISU roster for next season.
The combined group includes 18 defensive players and 16 offensive standouts. The class is comprised of seven linebackers and six defensive backs, five offensive linemen, four defensive linemen and wide receivers, three running backs and tight ends, one quarterback and longsnapper.
"I want to commend our entire coaching and support staff for all their hard work throughout this entire process," Spack said. "Recruiting never stops and it has only become more stressful with the addition of the transfer portal and having that option to help fill out your roster. I think they have all done a tremendous job filling some key needs heading into 2023 and have helped bolster our depth at several key positions."
The class comes from all over, but the majority come from right in the state of Illinois with 16 total. The group also hails from Texas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, Michigan, Arkansas, Nevada, Georgia and New Jersey.
"A majority of these additions won't be here until the summer, but we are excited to get to work with our transfers this spring and find out quickly how they may be able to help our team," Spack continued. "We feel confident that this new group will benefit our program in many ways. However, we are certainly not done looking for ways to improve this team for next year and beyond and will continue to be on the lookout for talented players to join our program."
The Redbirds will begin spring practices on March 7 and they will continue until the annual Spring Showcase scrimmage on April 15 at Hancock Stadium. ISU will open the 2023 campaign on September 2 at home against the Dayton Flyers.
2023 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL SIGNING DAY BIOGRAPHIES:
Kayode Amusan | LB | 6-3 | 215 | Woodbury, Minnesota (Woodbury HS)
Woodbury HS: Two-year varsity starter … as a senior, earned all-metro and all-district honors as a team captain while helping lead team to a conference championship and a top-5 ranking in Class 6A … team leader in tackles and tackles-for-loss … state Class 6A leader in sacks … as a junior, was the team leader in tackles-for-loss while earning all-district honors … helped lead team to a conference and sectional championship, as the team was ranked in the top-10 in the state rankings … also competed in basketball and track.
Personal: Born January 31, 2005, in Woodbury, Minnesota … son of Kolawole and Patricia Amusan … one of four children … his brother, Kolade, played football at South Dakota … his sister, Solape, played basketball at Sacramento State.
Anthony Corona | LB | 6-2 | 215 | South Lakes, Wisconsin (Wilmot Union HS)
Wilmot Union HS: Three-year varsity starter for head coach Keiya Square … earned honorable mention all-state honors as a senior … also earned all-region honors and was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year in final prep season … credited with 135 tackles, one sack and three tackles-for-loss with two interceptions and four forced fumbles on the year … during junior season, earned all-region and all-conference honors … was ranked and the No.1 defensive back in the state of Wisconsin … tallied 115 tackles, a sack, one interception and four tackles-for-loss in 2021 … also a three-year letterwinner in basketball at Wilmot.
Personal: Born March 6, 2005, in Lake Forest, Illinois … son of Anthony and Joy Corona … one of three children … member of the honor roll.
Steven Curtis | DL | 6-5 | 225 | West Palm Beach, Florida (Cardinal Newman HS)
Cardinal Newman HS: Played final season of prep career at Cardinal Newman … helped team to an 11-1 record … played previous three seasons at Dwyer, where he was a starter and named lineman of the year as a junior … helped lead the team to an undefeated regular season during sophomore campaign.
Personal: Born June 20, 2005, in West Palm Beach, Florida … son of Earnest and Karleen Curtis … one of three children … older brother, Josh, is a swimmer at Niagra.
Tommy Donovan | WR | 5-11 | 185 | South Lyon, Michigan (South Lyon HS)
South Lyon HS: Three-year year player for head coach Jeff Henson … holds school records for career points scored (296), single season scoring (166 points) and the single game record for touchdowns scored (6) … earned all-conference, all region and all-state honors as a senior while also being named the Hometown News Offensive Player of the Year … compiled 2,032 all-purpose yards and scored a total of 27 touchdowns … rushed for 1,226 yards and 18 touchdowns and caught 31 passes for 460 yards and six touchdowns … also served as the team's kick returner, averaging 32.5 yards per return with two touchdowns … as a junior, led his team to a 12-1 season before losing tin the Michigan D2 state semifinals … was named an all-conference, all-region and all-state selection.
Personal: Born August 18, 2004, in South Lyon, Michigan … son of Edward Donovan and Jennifer Twinning … his older sister, Kaitlyn, is a gymnast for Illinois State … four-year honor roll member.
Ivan Erickson | DL | 6-6 | 265 | Batavia, Illinois (Marmion Academy)
Marmion Academy: Three-year varsity starter for head coach Dan Thorpe … earned honorable mention all-state honors as a senior, while also earning all-conference and all-area honors … as a junior, earned all-area and honorable mention all-conference honors … recorded a single-season record 118 tackles for Marmion.
Personal: Born April 13, 2004 … son of Andrew and Lana Erickson … one of three children … member of the honor roll.
Joshua Ficklin | RB | 5-10 | 200 | Bentonville, Arkansas (Bentonville HS)
Bentonville HS: Three-year varsity starter for head coach Jody Grant … as a senior, earned all-state honors at running back after rushing for 1,487 yards and 26 touchdowns … led the team to the state championship game and an 11-2 overall record … earned all-state honors at tailback as a junior, tallying 1,529 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground … rushed for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore with 15 touchdowns on way to earning all-state honors.
Personal: Born September 9, 2005 … son of Cedric and Freda Ficklin ... has a younger brother, Chris.
Nick Hawkins | TE | 6-5 | 235 | Lemont, Illinois (Lemont HS)
Lemont HS: Two-year varsity starter … lead team to a pair of conference championships … as a senior, helped the team to the state semifinals … earned all-conference honors and academic all-state honors in final prep campaign … earned all-conference honors as a junior as well … also competed in basketball and baseball.
Personal: Born September 17, 2004, in DeKalb, Illinois … son of Jason Hawkins and Katie Thatcher … one of two children … his father, Jason, played collegiate football at Northern Illinois … member of the high honor roll.
Brayden Jellison | OL | 6-4 | 290 | Elkhart, Indiana (Elkhart HS)
Elkhart HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Josh Shattuck … first-team all-conference and all-area performer as a senior on the offensive line … named a team captain and team MVP … as a junior, earned first-team all-conference honors and all-state honors … named the team's offensive line MVP … as a sophomore, helped the team to a sectional championship … also a force on the wrestling mat, earning high school all-American honors … finished fourth place in the semi-state and sixth at the state finals as a junior, after taking home a sectional championship.
Personal: Born October 22, 2004, in Elkhart, Indiana … son of Zach and Courtni Jellison … oldest of three children … earned first-team all-state and all-conference academic honors … member of the National Honor Society and the student government.
Solomon Oduma | LB | 6-3 | 205 | Fort Wayne, Indiana (Carroll HS)
Carroll HS: Four-year starter for head coach Douglas Dinan … as a senior, helped lead the team to its first regional and semi-state wins in school history … team made the school's first-ever trip to state at Lucas Oil Stadium … recorded 15 tackles-for-loss and tallies three pass breakups … part of back-to-back conference championship squads.
Personal: Born October 26, 2005 … son of Friday and Florence Oduma … has one sibling, Shadrach … member of the academic honor roll all four years.
Paul Omodia | DB | 6-2 | 185 | Richmond, Texas (George Bush HS)
Bush HS: Three year letterwinner for head coach Allen Aldridge … as a senior, earned first-team all-district honors and was named the league all-purpose player of the year … was named the team MVP and was also an academic all-district selection … finished the year with 13 tackles, with one touchdown and one interception on defense … during junior season, was named a first-team all-district selection and the team's defensive back of the year … credited with 50 tackles on the year with one interception while helping lead the team to the playoffs … while playing as a sophomore, recorded 25 tackles and record six interceptions while earning league second-team honors.
Personal: Born January 23, 2005, in Toronto, Canada … son of Melanie Williams … has an older sister, Destiny … earned academic all-district honors during prep career.
Teon Parks | DB | 6-1 | 175 | Detroit, Michigan (Martin Luther King Jr. HS)
Martin Luther King Jr. HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Tyrone Spence … member of back-to-back state championship teams, helping the squad to a 10-3 record as a senior and a 13-1 mark as a junior … also a standout on the track, earning all-city and all-state honors.
Personal: Born April 15, 2005, in Detroit, Michigan … son of Tarnishia Hughes.
Brady Probst | TE | 6-4 | 240 | Brownsburg, Indiana (Brownsburg HS)
Brownsburg HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach John Hart … as a senior, earned second-team all-conference honors while helping team to a sectional championship and a No. 1 ranking in the state … ranked third on the team in sacks and fourth on the team in tackles-for-loss … was selected for the Team Toughness Award and was runner-up for the team MVP award … as a junior, helped lead the team to a sectional championship while playing in five games.
Personal: Born February 7, 2005, in Columbus, Indiana … son of Luke and Michelle Probst … will graduate with honors and was a student-athlete ambassador.
Josh Robinson | RB | 6-0 | 200 | Bolingbrook, Illinois (Bolingbrook HS)
Bolingbrook HS: Played three varsity seasons for head coach John Ivlow … as a senior, rushed for 620 yards and 12 touchdowns, with 20 receptions out of the backfield … helped team to the state playoffs in final prep season … as a junior, rushed for over 900 yards on the ground on way to earning all-conference honors … as a sophomore during the shortened COVID spring season, rushed for 643 yards in six games and earned all-conference honors.
Personal: Born July 16, 2005, in Maywood, Illinois … son of Jonathan Robinson and Audrey Magee … one of three children … his grandfather attended Illinois State.
Evan Sierra | DB | 6-0 | 190 | Orlando, Florida (Orlando Christian Prep)
Orlando Christian Prep: Played three seasons of varsity football for head coach Guerschom Demosthenes … as a senior, helped lead team to a district championship and earned first-team all-district honors at linebacker … credited with 45 tackles, two sacks and one interception on the year in nine games played … also caught one pass for a 36-yard touchdown … during junior campaign, had 47 tackles, two interceptions a sack and five pass breakups in 12 games played … earned honorable mention all-district honors at outside linebacker while helping the team to district and regional championships … had 20 tackles and five pass breakups during sophomore season, when he earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a defensive back … team won a state championship that season with an 8-2 overall record … also a standout on the track for Orlando Christian Prep.
Personal: Born November 21, 2004, in Queens, New York … son of Harold and Christina Sierra … one of five children … member of the honor roll every semester of prep career.
Jamarcus Smith | LB | 6-1 | 225 | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (American Heritage HS)
Heritage HS: Three-year starter for head coach Mike Smith … as a senior, recorded 98 tackles, 11 sacks, 15 tackles-for-loss and two interceptions while helping lead team to a state runner-up finish … earned All-Broward County and All-State honors following final prep season … tallied 50 tackles, four sacks, five tackles-for-loss and one interception during junior season while earning all-county honors … helped lead team to a state championship as a sophomore, while recording 20 tackles and recording eight sacks as a sophomore.
Personal: Born September 1, 2005, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida … son of Walter.
Chris Taylor | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Normal, Illinois (Normal Community HS)
Normal Community HS: Played two varsity seasons for head coach Jason Drengwitz … named a team captain and helped lead the Ironmen to the state playoffs … earned first-team all-conference honors as both a kick returner and a defensive back … played in eight contests and was named the WEEK TV Prep Rally Athlete of the Week … averaged 8.8 yards per carry as a junior, while earning first-team all-conference honors as a kick returner … helped the team to a 10-1 record and a conference championship … was also a standout on the track placing third in the high jump at the state meet as a junior.
Personal: Born September 21, 2004, in Chicago … son of Christopher and Angelica Taylor ... one of four children … his cousin, Darren Woodard, played football professionally for the St. Louis Rams and the Arizona Cardinals.
Ben Wallace | OL | 6-5 | 300 | Germantown Hills, Illinois (Metamora HS)
Metamora HS: Played three seasons of varsity football for head coach Jared Grebner … team captain on the offensive line as a senior and helped lead team to the IHSA state playoffs … named an IHSFCA Class 5A All-State selection and a first-team all-conference performer in final prep season … also a standout in the classroom, earned academic all-state honors … earned second-team all-conference honors up front for Metamora as both a sophomore and a junior.
Personal: Born December 1, 2004, in Peoria, Illinois … son of Dan and Jenny Wallace … has a younger sister, Rachel … his father, Dan, is a Redbird alum … member of the high honor roll and the National Honor Society.
2023 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL TRANSFER BIOGRAPHIES:
Amir Abdullah | LB | 6-3 | 200 | Chicago, Illinois (Whitney Young HS / Nebraska-Kearney)
At Nebraska-Kearney: Recorded 12 tackles as a sophomore in 2020, with a season-high eight stops against Lincoln … earned Loper Special Teams Player of the Week for the Hays game as a redshirt freshman in 2021 ... recorded 11 tackles over nine games that season, with a season-best five tackles at Fort Hays ... was one of five true freshmen to see action in UNK's fall games in 2020.
Whitney Young HS: Coached by Daniel Finger … averaged 15.3 tackles per game for the Dolphins in 2019 ... subsequently tabbed Class 7A All-State ... two-time Class 7A first-team All-City .... also two-time first-team all-league selection.
Mason Blakemore | RB | 6-1 | 210 | Centralia, Illinois (Centralia HS / Northern Illinois)
At Northern Illinois: Saw action in six games in 2022, carrying the ball 23 times for 88 yards with a touchdown … in 2021, netted 67 yards on 17 carries and scored his first career touchdown and recorded a personal best 44 yards on four carries vs. Bowling Green … also recorded one carry for four yards in the MAC Championship game win over Kent State. Â
Centralia HS: Garnered second team all-state honors by the News-Gazette in 2021 … rushed for 1,359 yards on 213 carries and 19 touchdowns in 2019 … added 135 yards receiving on 13 receptions in his junior year.
Braden Contreras | WR | 6-4 | 190 | Hinsdale, Illinois (Hinsdale Central HS / Valparaiso)
At Valparaiso: Played in 12 games for the Beacons in 2022, recording 30 catches for 466 yards with three touchdowns … averaged 15.5 yards per reception … had best performance of the year in a win over Morehead State, with five receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns … played in nine games and totaled 19 catches for 316 yards and one touchdown in 2021... caught a 35-yard touchdown pass at St. Thomas ... had a season-high 118 receiving yards on four receptions vs. Dayton including as season-long 42-yard reception … appeared in all six games and made four starts during the spring 2021 season … had a season-high 69 receiving yards on three catches including his first career touchdown reception vs. San Diego.
Hinsdale Central HS: Played two seasons of varsity football … two-time all-conference selection … earned all-state second team status and was named his team's Offensive Player of the Year … served as a team captain during his senior season … also played baseball as a freshman and sophomore.
Personal: Son of Kelly and Steve Contreras … has two younger brothers, Carter and Riley, and one younger sister, Grayson … father played football at Amherst from 1995-1999.
Kenny Givens | DL | 6-3 | 295 | Chicago, Illinois (Hubbard HS / Western Michigan)Â
At Western Michigan: Saw action in two games for the Broncos in 2022, recording two tackles and a sack on the year … recorded that sack and forced a fumble against FCS playoff participant New Hampshire. Â
At Iowa Central CC: Recorded 26 total tackles, three sacks and eight tackles-for-loss in redshirt freshman season in 2021 … had a season-best 1.5 sacks against Gordon … tallied four tackles and three tackles-for-loss against Ellsworth.
Cam Grandy | TE | 6-5 | 245 | Benson, Illinois (Fieldcrest HS / Missouri Western)
At Missouri Western: Played four seasons at Missouri Western … caught 31 passes for 275 yards with a long of 18 yards in 2022 … 2021 MIAA Academic Honor Roll member … earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors in 2019 and was a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll ... appeared in all 12 games with four starts ... had four games with at least one touchdown reception and finished the year with twenty receptions for 261 yards ... tied for first on team in touchdown receptions … played in eight games as a freshman, tallying six receptions for 65 yards with a touchdown catch against Nebraska-Kearney.
Fieldcrest HS: Peoria Journal Star Offensive Player of the Year … News Tribune Small School Player of the year … Academic All-State … All-State Honorable Mention … unanimous HOIC first team All-Conference Quarterback … second team HOIC All-Conference defensive back … HOIC Honorable Mention defensive end ...Peoria Journal Star Preps Best of Central Illinois selection.
CJ Hodgdon | DB | 6-2 | 210 | Henderson, Nevada (Green Valley HS / Ventura College)
At Ventura College: Played in six games, recording 14 tackles with one interception and two pass breakups … recorded a season-high four tackles at Moorpark … returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in a win over Long Beach.Â
Green Valley HS: Two-year varsity starter for head coach Brian Castro … also rank track during junior season.
Mason Kaplan | QB | 6-2 | 205 | Peachtree Corners, Georgia (Norcross HS / Valparaiso)
At Valparaiso: Played in seven games for the Beacons in 2022, including a start against Illinois State … finished the season completing 46-of-77 passes for 586 yards with six touchdowns and also added three touchdowns on the ground … completed 18-of-36 attempts for 191 yards with two touchdowns against the Redbirds … threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another in a win at San Diego … saw action in two games in 2021, completing four of his five pass attempts ... made collegiate debut on Sept. 11 at North Dakota State.
Norcross HS: Four-year varsity letter winner… helped his team post a 13-1 record and finish the season ranked 28th nationally … offensive MVP, multi-time Georgia Public Broadcasting Player of the Week, Scholar-Athlete Award from WSB-TV, First Team All-Region and First Team All-County … went 13-of-15 passing for 303 yards and five touchdowns in a playoff win over South Forsyth as a senior … also had five carries for 25 yards in that game … served as a team captain as a sophomore, junior and senior … member of National Honor Society, top 4 percent of his senior class, super honor roll all four years, selected as his school's representative at the IDEALS Leadership School.
Larry Ross | OL | 6-5 | 310 | Farmingdale, New Jersey (Peddie School / Stony Brook)
At Stony Brook: Played four seasons on the offensive line … played in 11 games in 2019, following redshirt season in 2018.
Peddie School: Played four years of varsity football for head coach Chris Malleo at the Peddie School ... helped his team to a No.1 ranking among prep school ranking and a 7-2 record his senior season ... earned All-MAPL honors as a junior and senior.
I'Shawn Stewart | WR | 5-10 | 175 | Bolingbrook, Illinois (Bolingbrook HS / Eastern Michigan)
At Eastern Michigan: Named a 2021 Academic All-MAC selection ... appeared in 13 games, tallying four receptions for 35 yards in his limited action during the season ... also racked up three special teams tackles.
At Oregon State: Did not appear in any games in 2020, but saw action in two games in 2019 ... redshirted during the 2018 season ... joined the Oregon State program prior to the start of spring practices.
Bolingbrook HS: Played for head coach John Ivlow as a Raider ... ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports ... earned all-state and all-league honors during his career ... rated amongst the top 30 prospects in the State of Illinois by 247Sports ... graduated in December 2017 and joined Oregon State in time for spring practices in 2018 ... broke his ankle as sophomore and made a comeback for the last three games of that season.
Personal: Son of Sequitia and Ira Stewart ... has one brother, I'Marion, and one sister, I'laya.
2023 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL WALK-ON BIOGRAPHIES:
Patrick Bauer | LB | 6-3 | 190 | Mount Prospect, Illinois (St. Viator HS)
St. Viator HS: Played three seasons for head coach David Archibald … as senior, led team in total tackles and was selected as a team captain … earned CCL/ESCC Purple Division All-Conference Team honors and earned honorable mention all-area honors from the Daily Herald … also earned IHSA Class 5A Academic All-State honors while leading team to the state playoffs and a division championship … team also earned a conference title during junior season.
Personal: Born June 26, 2005, in Mequon, Wisconsin … son of Jay and Cathy Bauer … has an older sister, Caitlin … member of the high honor roll.
Dalonte Butcher | DB | 5-10 | 160 | Romeoville, Illinois (Plainfield East HS)
Plainfield East HS: Played for head coach Bradley Kunz at Plainfield East … earned first-team all-conference honors as a senior, after recording 52 tackles, 13 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception … as a junior, was credited with 49 tackles and four pass breakups, while recording five catches for 130 yards on offense … during sophomore campaign, recorded 45 tackles and 11 breakups.
Personal: Son of Donte and Nikaron Butcher … one of three siblings … his mother (Nikaron), aunt (Cherese Butcher) and grandfather (Aaron Holmes) are all Illinois State graduates … his cousin, Richaun Holmes, plays basketball for the Sacramento Kings … member of the high honor roll all four years of prep career.
Aaron Effert | OL | 6-4 | 305 | Brookfield, Wisconsin (Brookfield Central HS)
Brookfield Central HS: Lettered three seasons for head coach Joel Nellis ... started all 14 games as a senior, while helping the team to an 11-3 record and a playoff appearance … earned conference Offensive Lineman of the Year honors, as well as all-region and all-state honorable mention honors … named a team captain as well … as a junior started five games before suffering a season ending injury.
Personal: Born September 22, 2004, in Brookfield, Wisconsin … son of Derek and Shelley Effert … youngest of two children.
Jacob Finley | OL | 6-9 | 290 | Williamsville, Illinois (Williamsville HS)
Williamsville HS: Two-year starter for head coach Aaron Kunz … named team captain as a senior and earned first-team all-conference honors, while helping team to a conference titled and a second-place finish in the state with a 12-2 record … was a starting guard as a junior as well, leading the team to a conference championship and a state quarterfinal appearance … also a standout on the basketball court, earning all-tournament team honors as a captain.
Personal: Born October 28, 2004, in Springfield, Illinois … son of Casey and Jen Finley … has a younger brother, Ryan …. his mother played volleyball collegiately at Illinois College.
Mark Haering | LB | 6-1 | 195 | Madison, Wisconsin (Edgewood HS)
Edgewood HS: Played four seasons for head coach Jesse Norris … earned all-conference honors as a linebacker and tight end and all-region honors as a tight end … earned honorable mention all-state honors as a tight end following senior campaign … as a junior, earned all-conference honors at linebacker and tight end as a team captain … helped lead team to a conference title and the most wins in school history.
Personal: Born December 13, 2003, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania … son of Christopher and Melissa Haering … youngest of two children … his father played college football at West Virginia and later coached collegiately at Pitt and Wisconsin … member of the National Honor Society and the honor roll.
Travis Jones | DL | 6-3 | 255 | Herscher, Illinois (Herscher HS)
Herscher HS: Four-year varsity standout for head coach Mike Mosier … saw action in only four games as a senior, recording 35 tackles, three sacks and recovered two fumbles … earned all-conference and all-area honors as a junior … played in nine games that season, tallying 47 tackles and three sacks … also earned all-conference honors as a sophomore, after amassing 27 tackles and a sack in five games played … played in seven games as a freshman, with 22 stops and two sacks … also competed in basketball, baseball and track at Herscher.
Personal: Born March 16, 2005, in Kankakee, Illinois … son of Dustin and Kristen Jones … one of four children … his older brother, Tyler, played football at Illinois Wesleyan … member of the National Honor Society.
Claude Strnad | LS | 6-3 | 245 | Wilmette, Illinois (Loyola Academy)
Loyola Academy: Two-year starter for head coach John Holecek … rated as a four-star longsnapper and also played on the offensive line for the IHSA Class 8A state championship squad … as a junior, part of a team that posted a perfect regular-season record was a semifinalist in the state playoffs … also competed in sailing for two seasons.
Personal: Born May 4, 2005, in Chicago, Illinois … son of Bill Strnad and Stacy Jo Haney … one of three children … both is grandfather and father are Illinois State graduates … his grandmother, Yolanda Davino, was a member of the National Girls Baseball League.
Valient Walsh | WR | 5-8 | 175 | Mansfield, Illinois (Mahomet-Seymour HS)
Mahomet-Seymour HS: Two-year varsity standout for head coach Jon Adkins … as a senior, tallied 16 total touchdowns with 508 receiving yards and two kickoff returns for scores … named a first-team all-conference honors and second-team all-area honors … presented with the Team Character Award and also selected as a team captain … helped lead team to a conference title, an 11-1 overall record and a quarterfinal berth in the IHSA state playoffs … recorded four receiving touchdowns and 448 yards receiving as a junior, while being named a team captain … helped to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs that season as well.
Personal: Born December 21, 2004, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin … son of Victor and Nadalie Walsh … one of three siblings … his mother was a collegiate gymnast at UW-Oshkosh and was later a coach at Illinois.
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