Murray’s Ryan Walls Makes His Presence Felt on the Field-and on the Recruiting Trail
Murray High School is heading to the Class 3-A state championship, and a big reason-literally and figuratively-is sophomore lineman Ryan Walls. The 6-foot-3, 325-pound two-way standout helped power the Tigers to a 27-20 win over Lloyd Memorial in the semifinals last Friday night, keeping their perfect season alive and punching their ticket to Saturday’s title game at Kroger Field in Lexington.
And while most high school sophomores might spend the next day recovering from a grueling playoff battle, Walls spent his Saturday taking in a different kind of football atmosphere-on the sidelines at L&N Stadium, watching Louisville shut out Kentucky 41-0.
Walls, who’s played in all 26 of Murray’s games over the past two seasons, continues to turn heads across the college football landscape. He’s already picked up offers from Florida State and Marshall, and his return visit to Louisville only strengthened his growing connection with the Cardinals.
“After our intense and aggressive win Friday night, I was able to make it to the Louisville game day, and it was a great game and a great experience,” Walls said. “The team win was great, and I had an amazing time talking to Vince Marrow.”
Marrow, now on staff at Louisville, had previously been recruiting Walls while at Kentucky. That relationship is clearly still strong-and now it’s in the Cardinals’ favor.
Walls came away impressed not just by the dominant performance on the field, but by the energy in the stands and the resilience of a Louisville team that’s been dealing with its share of injuries.
“One thing that stuck out to me was the fans and how much they were into the game,” he said. “And the players, the way the players fed off the crowd was a great experience.”
For a sophomore lineman already drawing Power Five interest, Walls carries himself with the poise of a veteran. He’s been through the early stages of the recruiting process before-he attended Florida State’s Junior Day back in February, where he picked up his first offer, and Marshall followed shortly after. He’s also visited Tennessee and Louisville multiple times, including a spring visit to U of L earlier this year.
“It’s been a great time being recruited by the University of Louisville,” Walls said. “I can’t wait to keep in touch with them and can’t wait for the future.”
On the field, Walls is more than just a big body in the trenches-he’s a disruptor on defense and a tone-setter on offense. As a freshman, he racked up 81 tackles, including 48 solo, and even snagged an interception.
This season, he’s taken another step forward. Through 14 games, he’s recorded 92 tackles, four sacks, two tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries.
And while defense might be his calling card, don’t overlook his contributions on offense-he’s even carried the ball four times for 39 yards and three touchdowns, while anchoring a line that’s paved the way for over 2,700 rushing yards and more than 6,000 total yards of offense.
Murray enters Saturday’s title game with a perfect 14-0 record, and Walls has been at the center of it all-literally, in the trenches, where games are often won and lost. Whether it’s blowing open holes for a high-octane offense or stuffing opposing ball carriers, he’s been a force.
And with two years of high school ball still ahead of him, it’s clear Walls’ story is just getting started. College programs are already lining up, but for now, his focus is on bringing home a state championship.
After that? Expect to see a lot more of Ryan Walls on Saturdays in the years to come.