Football early signing day: Joe Walker's decision and more Indy-area updates

Joe Walker's name will eventually be on the wall in the refurbished Warren Central hallway that honors the Warriors' championship teams and award-winning players.

In that same hallway Monday night with family and friends, the Mr. Football position award winner for wide receiver announced his college decision for Eastern Michigan. The 6-5, 210-pound Walker caught 35 passes for 664 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior and had the distinction of catching TD passes against state champions from Indiana (Center Grove), Michigan (Detroit King) and Missouri (Christian Brothers).

Walker had been committed to Western Michigan, but coach Tim Lester was fired after a 5-7 season and Walker reopened his recruitment.

“It was overwhelming,” Walker said of going through the recruiting process again. “I went through a lot of down time like, ‘This is crazy to go through this.’ But it’s a process and a business and I understood that part. I locked in and made my choice and found my home.”

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Eastern Michigan was 8-4 this season and is playing in the Idaho Famous Potato Bowl on Tuesday against San Jose State. North Central defensive lineman Kevion Wellington is also an Eastern Michigan recruit and attended Walker’s announcement Monday night.

“I’m definitely trying to make an impact (right away),” Walker said. “I’m trying to get on the field my first year. I’m not trying to go redshirt anywhere. I want to go play and work hard for my head coach. Playing at the next level has always been a dream and I feel like I can make to the (NFL) wherever I go. That’s my mindset.”

Walker took an official visit to Eastern Michigan earlier this month. He said he came away from the visit feeling like he found a new home.

“I got a good feeling from the players and coaches,” Walker said. “I saw how the coaches interacted with each other and that’s what I wanted to see in a program. I feel like they are going to challenge me and I’m going to earn what I get. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Walker will officially sign Wednesday at the beginning of the early signing period for football. North Central wide receiver T.J. McWilliams, previously a Purdue recruit, announced Monday that he flipped his commitment to Minnesota. McWilliams, a three-star prospect, is ranked as the No. 16 in-state prospect on the 247sports recruiting composite list.

Lawrence Central defensive end Josh Mickens will make his college announcement Wednesday at noon. Mickens, previously an LSU commit, is a four-star prospect and ranked No. 2 on the 247sports composite behind Andrean linebacker and Mr. Football Drayk Bowen, a Notre Dame commit. Mickens took an official visit to Ohio State late last month for the Michigan game.

Mickens’ teammate Trent Baker-Booker, a Virginia commit and three-star safety, will sign at the same time as Mickens.

Central Indiana high school football commitments

Here are the other confirmed signings for the early period for Central Indiana football players in the early period, which runs through Friday (will be updated as necessary):

Christian Abney, QB, Zionsville (Ball State)

Trent Baker-Booker, DB, Lawrence Central (Virginia)

Nick Beidl, RB, Carmel (Valparaiso)

Winston Berglund, S, Carmel (Purdue)

Luke Burgess, OL, New Palestine (Louisville)

Nick Cloyd, DB, Brownsburg (Butler)

Elijah Davis, S, Pike (Ball State)

Ben Decker, OL, Noblesville (Miami of Ohio)

Desmond Duffy, WR, Carmel (Ohio)

Carson Dunn, RB, Fishers (Indiana State)

Will Heldt, LB, Carmel (Purdue)

Bryson Hobbs, DL, Park Tudor (Youngstown State)

Preston Jarvis, OL, Brownsburg (Murray State)

Leighton Jones, OL, Brownsburg (Iowa)

Pat Kendall, DL, Cathedral (Army)

Trevor Lauck, OL, Roncalli (Iowa)

Blake Matthews, WR, Carmel (Butler)

T.J. McWilliams, WR, North Central (Minnesota)

Brady Neu, DL, Roncalli (Central Michigan)

Drew Page, OL, Noblesville (Kent State)

Bryce Patterson, DE, Brownsburg (Indiana State)

Brady Probst, TE, Brownsburg (Illinois State)

Grant Shelton, DB, Fishers (Indiana State)

Luke Skartvedt, OL, Roncalli (Northern Illinois)

Sterling Smith, DB, Cathedral (Holy Cross)

Grady Stanley, LB, Fishers (Indiana State)

Aycen Stevens, LB, Decatur Central (Virginia Tech)

Isaiah Thacker, DB, New Palestine (Ball State)

Dillon Thieneman, S, Westfield (Purdue)

Jaron Tibbs, WR, Cathedral (Purdue)

Kevion Wellington, DL, North Central (Eastern Michigan)

Brennan Wooten, TE, Cathedral (Western Michigan)

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Football early signing day: Joe Walker makes decision and more updates