Athlete of the Week: Senior QB Brandon Walsh Leads Knights Into 2011

As sure as the changing of the leaves, Brandon Walsh will be under center for the football team in the fall. The senior quarterback has started every game but two over his career since taking the helm as a freshman in 2008.

“I thought I was going to be up for a week and see [how varsity was], and then head back down to the freshmen [team],” recalls Walsh, remembering his first practices with the Scarlet Knights. “But [former QB] Zach Ivonella got hurt running wildcat, and I was starting against Andover.”

Walsh threw for 23 touchdowns in 2010 leading the Knights to within one game of a division Super Bowl berth at Gillette Stadium. He also picked up 695 yards and 13 TDs with his legs, earning him NorthAndoverPatch.com’s 2010 Athlete of the Year for his efforts.

Football is in Walsh’s blood. His grandfather started the youth football program in town, his father has been coaching for Walsh’s entire life, and his older brother was also a standout with the Knights.

“I was a hockey player to begin with,” said Walsh of his youth. “Then I started playing football with my older brother and practicing with my dad’s team.”

Walsh said he hung up his skates by fifth grade to play football. He was always meant to be a quarterback but that process didn’t begin until seventh grade.

“In sixth grade I was too heavy, so I played linebacker,” he recalled. “By seventh grade I was playing quarterback.”

Wlash said that the thing he enjoys most about playing the position is the ability to make his own calls.

“When you see something and you feel good about [the call you made]. Like seeing a blitz coming and making the right call and delivering the pass on time,” he said.

North Andover coach John Rafferty pointed out Walsh right away and was asked what he expected from a player who has spent his entire high school career playing for him.

Walsh said he expects a lot from himself and his team in his senior campaign and that he was more excited than ever to get the season underway. The Cape Ann Conference merged with the Northeast Conference and Knights have a new schedule that Walsh said was much tougher.

“We’re looking to improve every week,” Walsh said. “We have some great out of conference [opponents] like Reading. And all our conference games are at the end [of the season].

“A lot!” responded Rafferty, looking at Walsh with a slight grin.

In the spring, Walsh is a baseball standout that has gotten the attention of big programs like UMass, the University of Rhode Island, and others. But if colleges came knocking with football offers, Walsh said it would be a tough decision to make.

“In football season I love football and in baseball [season] it’s the same,” he said.

North Andover hosts familiar first-game foe, Andover tonight to open its season at 7 p.m.