Eden Prairie, Minn., defensive tackle Walker Ashley made his college choice known early this morning when he signed a letter-of-intent for USC.
He picked the USC over Ohio State, Minnesota and Penn State.
Ashley was a three-year starter at Eden Prairie, helping his team win a state title as a sophomore in 2002. As a junior, he had 74 tackles, 10 sacks and four caused fumbles. This year, his team went 11-1. Ashley finished up with 89 tackles, 14 sacks, 24 tackles-for-loss and six fumbles caused. He also had a touchdown catch on offense. He was named the Minneapolis Star-Tribune metro player of the year.
His father, Walker Lee Ashley, was a defensive end/linebacker for the Nittany Lions from 1979-82. He helped PSU claim its first national championship in 1982 before going on to a seven-year career with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.
Ashley is rated as the No. 19 defensive tackle prospect in the nation by Scout.com and as Minnesota’s No. 3 overall prospect. SuperPrep ranks him as the No. 1 player in Minnesota, the No. 17 player in the Midwest. He is also a SuperPrep All-American, ranking as the No. 23 defensive lineman in the country.
He holds a 2.6 GPA and scored a 19 on the ACT. He was debating between Ohio State, USC, Minnesota and Penn State.
Here are comments from Bucknuts.com recruiting editor Duane Long on Ashley: “I think wherever he goes he is going in as a defensive tackle. But, if he would allow the move, the position he should embrace is maybe on the offensive line. He may play on Sundays as a defensive tackle, but I think he would probably play on Sundays as an offensive tackle, if that makes any sense. He is a big, athletic kid. He can run and move and slide. I think he’d be a good pass protector.”