A star sprinter, Morton junior Michael Walker Jr. has no qualms about playing football.
In fact, the 5-foot-8, 150-pound Walker envisions competing in football well into the future.
“I want to go to college, for sure, whatever sport that takes me out there,” he said. “I feel like I can do both. Not many people can do both, but I feel like I’m one that can.”
Walker already has proved he’s an elite athlete on the track, and this season he should have an increased opportunity to show his skills on the field for the Governors.
Walker’s latest exploits as a sprinter came earlier this month at the AAU Junior Olympic Games at Drake. He placed second in the 200 meters and fourth in the 100 meters.
“It went good,” he said. “I prepped for it. I was ready. I wanted to represent. It was a nice experience out there racing against people from other states.”
Walker has fared quite well during in-state competitions as well. He finished second in the 100 and seventh in the 200 at the state meet in the spring. His personal bests are 10.45 seconds in the 100 and 21.13 in the 200.
Walker, Morton’s record holder in both races, has his sights set on going undefeated for the rest of his high school career, including back-to-back state titles in both distances.
“That’s my goal,” he said. “I didn’t lose a single race last year until I got to state, and I don’t want to lose again.
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“I’ve been fast my whole life. When I got to Morton, started hitting the weight room, I got much faster.”
Governors coach Mac Mishler aims to utilize Walker’s speed at running back, in tandem with junior Joshua Lasenby, a transfer from Merrillville.
“He’ll be in our one-two punch at running back,” Mishler said of Walker. “I mean, we’d be dumb not to play him, right, a kid that fast? He’s a great kid, and we’re excited to have him in our group.”
Walker, who said he weighed 110 pounds as a freshman, lined up more as a slot receiver last season. He had four catches for 39 yards and seven carries for 42 yards and a touchdown.
Walker nearly eclipsed those rushing totals in the Governors’ season-opening win over Portage last week with six carries for 33 yards. He’s targeting the 1,000-yard plateau, having prepared for an increased workload after Davion Terry and Elijah Boone graduated.
“I did a lot of drills, put in a lot of time,” Walker said. “I think I improved a lot. I always learn something in everything I do. I learn something new every day.”
Morton senior wide receiver Marcus McBride Jr. appreciates Walker’s attitude.
“In the locker room, he brings comedy, always in a good mood,” McBride said. “I’ve never seen him mad before either. He always lightens up the mood. If we’re having a bad practice, he’s always the one picking us up. He’s never down.
“He brings a lot of leadership for the team — good vibes and leadership.”
Walker has seen those good vibes extend throughout the team so far.
“We’re very physical, and we have chemistry,” he said. “We really all play together as a unit.”
Walker hopes that togetherness translates into results on the field. The Governors no longer are grouped with Class 5A sectional nemesis Merrillville, which has ended each of their past three seasons. But as the Pirates have moved up to 6A, the Governors have moved down to 4A into a highly competitive sectional field.
Still, Walker remains undaunted about the prospects for Morton, which last won a sectional title in 2012.
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“The main goal for a long time has been a sectional championship,” he said. “But honestly, this year, I believe we can go farther than that, go to state. We have to have the confidence to do it.”