Walding keeping team-first mindset throughout preseason QB competition

Time and time again throughout his winding football career, redshirt sophomore quarterback Kurt Walding has been reminded that, in the long run, humility pays off. He’s seen the positive byproducts of a team-first attitude at every level.

Take his high school experiences, for example. At Dowling Catholic in Des Moines, Iowa, Walding was never a full-time starter. He spent three years behind Ryan Boyle, a three-star prospect who ended up committing to Iowa. Even his senior year, Walding split time under center.

Was it an ideal situation, on an individual level? Maybe not.

But it ended with an unblemished record and a blowout state championship win. It’s likely he wasn’t complaining.

“That’s always been a really good example of how to put the team in front of yourself and how success will come from that,” he said.

Walding ended up at Iowa Western Community College, and after a redshirt year in 2016, found himself near the forefront of the Reivers’ quarterback depth chart, alongside then-redshirt sophomore Kai Locksley.

After three weeks in what he described as the “prominent role” at quarterback, Walding offered up his starting position as an opportunity for Locksley to honor his older brother just days after his passing.

Locksley’s first start was a 63-6 rout of Fort Scott Community College in which he 168 passing yards, and threw as many touchdowns as incompletions — two.

“I was really excited for him, it was awesome, and I he kind of just took over from there,” Walding said. “I still got in, but not as much as I used to.”

Once again, what may have been a difficult decision for Walding had a powerful outcome.

Knowing the impact it had on the remainder of the season for the Reivers — who finished 11-1 — as well as himself and his teammate, Walding knows he wouldn’t go back on that choice if given the opportunity.

“I’ve said it and I’ll say it again, if I could do it again, I wouldn’t ever change anything about that situation,” he said. “I think being a good person is more important to me than being a good football player.”

And it certainly doesn’t hurt that one year later, both Walding and Locksley landed on their feet at the FBS level — Walding a Sun Devil, and Locksley a UTEP Miner. Since their departure from Iowa Western, the relationship between Walding and Locksley has remained strong.

“We’ll wish each other luck before our first games, and just kind of talk throughout the season. I’ve reached out to him about the recruiting process when it came to Arizona State and kind of what to look for. He’s definitely a person that I can talk to and I feel like he feels the same.”

For Walding, the opportunity to move to a power five program was made available by the recent departure of two former ASU quarterbacks. When Brady White (Memphis) and Blake Barnett (South Florida) transferred out of the program earlier in the offseason, the Sun Devils were left with just two quarterbacks with playing experience at the college level.

According to offensive coordinator Rob Likens, it became clear that, if nothing else, ASU needed “another body” in its quarterback room. Throughout the search that ensued, Walding emerged as a prime candidate.

“We found out about Kurt, (quarterbacks) coach (Charlie) Fisher knew his high school coach and his junior college coach really well,” Likens said. “We just got some phone calls, did our due diligence, and it paid off.”

Upon arriving at Arizona State, Walding ended up working his way right back into a depth chart competition.

Throughout fall camp, he’s emerged as a contender for the second-string position behind Manny Wilkins, a job that appeared to be held by fellow redshirt sophomore Dillon Sterling-Cole with the departure of Barnett in April.

"I’ve been really impressed with him," Wilkins said. "I envy him for picking up our offense so fast. Really smart kid, him and Grayson (Barry) both, they did a really good job of when we’re up there and coach tells us to draw up a play, obviously I’m first, I’ll never give him that, I compete at all that…but man they do a really good job of knowing the plays, knowing what guys have, the depth of their route versus this, they’re going to do this.

"I really haven’t had to do much of…let’s stay after and let’s work on this because honestly they just understand it, they’re smart kids but I’ve been really impressed with Kurt.”

According to coaches, it’s been his poise and his willingness to learn — among other things — that have stood out and helped Walding insert himself into the conversation at QB2.

“I think this scheme really fits him,” Likens said. “He’s smart, he’s pretty accurate, he gets out of his hand fast, and when we need him to throw a deep ball, he’s got a pretty good arm.”

“He’s done a nice job of really understanding the offense, hasn’t been here very long, makes pretty good decisions with the ball,” head coach Herm Edwards added. “He’s done a good job, he really has. We’ll see where it ends when we have to make some decisions.”

For Walding, though, as has been the case throughout his football career, the individual competition is secondary. At this point, he’s still getting to know and learn from his fellow quarterbacks, not to mention adapting to a new system, school, environment and coaching staff.

It’s the same concept he’s deployed since high school — the team’s success is his top priority, no matter what that means for the quarterback pecking order.

“In that QB room, you’ve got to root for each other,” Walding said. There’s no personal vendettas or anything, people are rooting for each other to get better every day. We’re putting the team’s success in front of our own success and I think that’s the most important thing. That’s something coach Likens really preaches.”

Likens agreed; he sees that mentality unfolding among the quarterbacks, regardless of preseason position battles.

“I think those kids really do cheer for each other, Likens said. “I listen to Manny coach both of them, and I hear Dillon telling Kurt he did a good job on certain things, so I think we’ve got a pretty good room. If you have problems in your room because of that, I think you probably didn’t recruit very well as far as character is concerned.”

Granted, Walding is still quite new to the Arizona State football program. He’s certainly not 100 percent acclimated to everything it entails.

But he’s already made it clear he’s ready for the challenge and will be looking to make his mark on the Sun Devils’ program in the future.

“I’m just the type of person who will always rise to an occasion. That’s kind of my own self-motto. No matter how big the stage is, I just have confidence in myself that I’ll always rise to that level.”

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