High school football: Huntley's defensive strength starts up front

At one defensive end spot, Huntley will line up junior-to-be Brad Walker Jr., an NCAA Division I recruit who was a standout sprinter in Marlowe Middle School.

Next to Walker, in the middle, the Red Raiders will have senior Matt Burba, a two-time All-Fox Valley Conference player who applies his wrestling skills to battle offensive linemen.

For Huntley coach Matt Zimolzak, who wants the defense to attack more, there is no better place to start than with those two players. Walker and Burba both were Northwest Herald All-Area first-team selections last season and the Raiders are thrilled to have them to build their defense around this fall.

“Matt and Brad are tremendous players for us,” Zimolzak said. “They allow us to do things in the back end to shore up things on the front. It allows us to be more dynamic in the secondary. To have those guys occupy a lot of space, take up double teams and things, we can send guys or have pressure from different areas.”

Defensive linemen don’t always rack up big tackles numbers, but Walker, who was in on 46 tackles and had 2 1/2 sacks, was mentioned by most Fox Valley Conference coaches when asked about other teams’ top players.

Burba (5-11, 245) had 49 tackles, five for losses and three sacks. Walker is 6-1, 265 pounds, about 20 pounds heavier than he played last season. He had 46 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and forced one fumble.

“We could stir the pot for a lot of offenses,” Burba said. “Our defense is going to be pretty good. We have some veterans. We need to fly to the ball better overall. Everyone running to the ball, doing their assignments.”

Burba, Walker, linebacker Rukkus Hunkins and defensive backs Mitch Murray and Alex Janke are the returning defensive starters. Murray will play linebacker this season.

“Our defense last year was strong overall,” Walker said. “I feel like our defense is going to be very strong. I want it to be the best it can be.”

Hunkins thinks the Raiders can have a stout defense and knows Walker and Burba up front will help a lot.

“We’re a good overall defense and we’re really dedicated,” Hunkins said. “That experience (with Burba and Walker) is going to help us a lot. They’re going to get to the quarterback in under four seconds. They’re really intense, really quick. They’re going to be good.”

Burba is looking at D-II Upper Iowa, D-III Augustana and Ripon, and D-I Valparaiso (which plays in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League).

Walker, who was in Ohio trying out for USA Football’s U-17 National Select team, will be back in workouts with the Raiders this week. Walker made that team last year and played at Arlington, Texas’ AT&T Stadium as the USA beat Team Ontario, 61-7. He visited Cincinnati this spring and plans to attend a camp at Minnesota next month. Although he has two more years of high school remaining, Walker has gained notoriety among college coaches.

“(The attention) has been great,” Walker said. “It’s truly a blessing. My family tells me to be humble and appreciate what you have. So whenever anyone calls me from a school, I always speak to them in a way that I want them to speak to me. I know how to act and behave around people. I’m truly appreciative to all the attention I have gotten.”

Walker wants to use his speed to get after quarterbacks, but also wants to be better at containing the outside edge so teams have difficulty running around his side.

Burba was a sophomore making himself known a year before Walker did the same thing. As a senior, he wants to be a defensive leader.

“I want to set the tone for the line and really set an example for the younger guys coming in here,” Burba said. “I want to see more intensity.”