Baylor offensive lineman Walker Culver poses in the studio at the Times Free Press on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017 in Chattanooga, Tenn.With all the newness surrounding the debut of the three-day early signing period for high school football players, there is one familiar feel: Baylor School will have multiple signees.
Among the area’s players who will begin signing today will be Red Raiders defensive backs Jaylon Baker and Brendon Harris, offensive lineman Walker Culver and long snapper Cade Long, all with Bowl Subdivision programs. Baker will sign with Virginia, Harris with Vanderbilt, Culver with Virginia Tech and Long with Georgia Tech.
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Culver had a whirlwind recruiting process over the last two weeks, with Ohio State coach Urban Meyer visiting him at Baylor, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh calling and Auburn extending an offer last week. Culver, a Times Free Press preseason Dynamite Dozen member who had committed to Colorado in the summer, visited Virginia Tech last weekend.
“There were several factors that weighed in on my decision,” Culver said. “At the end of the day I had to sit down with my family and see what would be best for me and my future and where I fit in. I really like the coaching staff – you can tell they genuinely care about their players – and I just felt like it was the best fit for me.
“At times it was definitely a little stressful, but I was honored that colleges would take time to visit me or offer me (a scholarship), and I’m excited about the next step.”