CHARLOTTE, NC -- Even though the Charlotte Nike Football Training Camp featured more than 240 prospects and several offensive linemen who are highly recruited, it was hard to miss Charlotte (N.C.) Christian offensive tackle Phillip Walton at 6’7 and 265 pounds.
Will high-upside OT Phillip Walton choose NC State?
The former swimmer has an ideal build for left tackle.
While most offensive linemen carry some bad weight, Walton is extremely lean for the position. His father spoke briefly with SB Nation Recruiting and indicated that while his son loves playing defense after picking up the game three years ago following his decision to give up competitive swimming, schools are recruiting him at offensive tackle.
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In the one-on-one drills, it was clear that Walton still has a ways to go to feature a high-level understanding of the game, but he showed that he can learn quickly, as he was consistently able to incorporate teaching tips into his technique and recover with strong reps, rarely losing his second attempt.
The upside inherent in his frame and athleticism has caught the attention of NC State, which offered back in February. Marshall has also joined in his recruitment.
His father said that the family will take a trip to Kentucky in the near future, with a decision coming not long after that.
Since Walton doesn’t yet have an offer from the Wildcats, the home-state Wolfpack would seem to be the heavy favorite.
Physically, there’s a lot of development left for the Charlotte Christian product and he hasn’t yet been rated by any of the services, but at a difficult position to find athletic prospects, it’s not hard to see why NC State would take a risk on the big left tackle.
