The ACT was able to do what no offensive lineman in the city could do this season: stop Brandon Walters in his tracks.
Walters, the 6-foot-8 Mr. Football finalist from Howard High School, has yet to pass the standardized test, bringing his promising football career to a screeching halt. But Walters' basketball talents are also abundant, and he's currently listening to juco offers.
Walters confirmed Tuesday night that there would be no Signing Day ceremony in his immediate future.
“No, there's nothing I can do until I pass the ACT,” said Walters following his team's game at East Ridge. “Right now, I'm exclusively looking at basketball.”
Walters recently took the ACT for the fourth time and is awaiting the results. Should he pass, all bets are off and his football recruiting status will change rapidly.
As it is, a UT football assistant attended Walters' home game two weeks ago, but in recent days, he has been heavily recruited by Cleveland State. Wallers indicated to head coach Lee Cigliano that he is open to the idea of having to go the juco route.
MaxPreps rates the 6-8 post player the 55th-ranked basketball player in Tennessee.
For his part, Howard basketball coach Walter McGary is keeping out of it, so long as the recruiting roller-coasting doesn't take Walters off his considerable game.
“Whatever decision he makes, I hope he has had fun with the process,” said McGary, whose own college career spanned coach Ron Shumate's early years at UTC. “I want him to relax and make sure of his decision.”