In a busy 24 hours in south St. Petersburg, which major colleges like Ohio State, Florida and Miami swinging through to take a look at standouts like Lakewood quarterback Ryan Davis and Gibbs defensve back Craig Watts, there was one big surprise.
Marquez Walls was offered by Louisville.
A junior varsity standout last season, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Gibbs defensive back picked up the first offer of his prep career after impressing Cardinal recruiter Greg Brown at practice.
"He had offered Craig Watts, but I said come out to practice and watch (Walls) and I bet you'll love him,'' said Gibbs assistant coach Bob Lindsey.
Sure enough, he did. In a one-day span where Lakewood's Davis and Savion Smith picked up Louisville and Ohio State offers, Lakewood's Tyrell Hubbard-Smith picked up his third offer, from USF, and Watts was offered by Temple, Louisville and Ohio State, Walls joined the ranks of Pinellas County recruits.
Later Wednesday afternoon, Walls also picked up a Alabama-Birmingham offer, as did Watts.
"I wasn't expecting it to happen that quick,'' said Walls, a rising junior who played on the varsity basketball team this past winter. "It's an amazing experience."
Walls will play defensive back and wide receiver for the Gladiators this fall, and is also the team's punter.
Lindsey said he is also attracting interest from Florida State, and expects the 2016 prospect to pick up a few more offers this spring.
"Athletically, he's one of the biggest freaks in the county,'' Lindsey said. "Colleges will love that."