Myles Walton was given the nickname “Twitch” when he was a senior at Homewood-Flossmoor.
The 5-foot-8, 163-pound Walton is small in stature, but the North Central College junior wide receiver looks like he’s being controlled by a joystick on the field, making the nickname appropriate.
“I kind of ran with it because it had a good ring to it: Myles ‘Twitch’ Walton,” he said. “They call me ‘Twitch’ because I’m fast and I’m hard to tackle.”
Walton, who had just six career catches before he broke off a 72-yard TD at Augustana earlier this season, put together what is perhaps his most complete game in the top-ranked Cardinals’ 66-0 win against No. 6 Susquehanna in the NCAA Division III national semifinals on Dec. 21.
Walton tied a career high with three catches for 49 yards and a TD, increasing his season totals to 16 catches for 290 yards and six TDs.
Despite working in the shadows behind former All-American DeAngelo Hardy, Walton prepared for this moment, and he’s taking advantage of the opportunity as NCC gets ready for its fifth consecutive appearance in the national championship game. The Cardinals (14-0) will play No. 3/5 Mount Union (14-0) in the Stagg Bowl at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston on Sunday.
“Honestly, it just felt natural,” Walton said. “Every week in practice, everyone prepares like a starter. Getting on the field, it just felt great to showcase my talents and do whatever I can for the team.
“We learned from DeLo and Joey (Lombardi), so it never felt like we were stepping into a new role because we were mentored by such great players.”
Walton said he still talks with Hardy, who got a look at Baltimore Ravens camp during the offseason.
“He taught me how to use my size,” Walton said. “He’s at every game, critiquing all of my film.”
Walton learned every receiver position for the Cardinals before he made an impact in a game.
“He may be one of our highest football IQ guys,” NCC offensive coordinator Eric Stuedemann said. “He’s got the ability to block and to make plays. He makes explosive plays when the ball is in his hands.
“He’s like a coach out there on the field. You can move him around to different positions, which helps him and helps the team.”
Walton has been honing his football IQ for much of his life. He began playing the sport when he was 4 years old. His brother Willie played at Minnesota State-Mankato. His parents, Tricia and Willie Sr., were accomplished athletes, as well.
“It kind of just came naturally to me,” Walton said. “My family is a big football family. People like that are not replaceable to me.”
Stuedemann said Walton is one of NCC’s fiercest blockers despite his size.
“Pound for pound, all 163 pounds of him, he blocks his tail off,” Stuedemann said. “That’s ultimately what gets guys on the field. We’ll put him against anybody to block. When you block as a receiver, the ball naturally finds you.”
Walton said he’s not intimidated by bigger players.
“I was always taught to be a dog no matter how big you are,” he said. “I feel like I can block anybody. That’s how it was instilled in me — just be a dog no matter what.”
On a team with a relatively inexperienced group of receivers, Walton’s versatility and smarts helped him carve out a role alongside players like Jacob Paradee and Thomas Skokna as the Cardinals went to a committee approach this season.
“We’re just working the new guys in like Skokna and Myles,” NCC quarterback Luke Lehnen said. “The chemistry has been really easy to build. You just never know who’s going to be the receiver that has the breakout game.”
The Cardinals have one more game to show that. Memories of their one-point loss to Cortland in the Stagg Bowl last season are still front and center.
“You can’t forget about something like that so easily,” Walton said. “We use it as motivation to keep going every day and be where your feet are. Don’t take it for granted.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter.
