When Tacoma Baptist's Walker Williams is done pumping iron at Competive Edge Performance Training in Puyallup, he moves on to getting in a quick-step cardiovascular workout.
While lifting buddy Joshua Garnett, of Puyallup High, sticks to running, Williams makes a move toward the dance floor – in search of Latin-music beats.
Yes, the 6-foot-7, 320-pound offensive tackle bound for the University of Wisconsin is into Zumba.
"Zumba is a great cardio tool," Williams said. "The only rest you get is between the songs and that's only for four or five seconds."
Williams has been doing Zumba for about a year. He was first exposed to the workout craze when a Tacoma Baptist assistant coach's fiancée led a session for the team when Williams was a sophomore.
A self-described "dancing fool," Williams was intrigued and soon began including Zumba as part of his regular cardio routine.
"It looked fun, I went in and did it," he said. "I don't really care what other people think about my dancing."
Williams said he's usually the only male in classes that are populated by more than 20 women. When he showed up for his first class, some women openly applauded that a man had the nerve to try Zumba.
Then the music flowed.
"When they saw me dancing, (and) that I could move pretty well and move my hips, just as well as all the girls," he said, "they were impressed that a guy had the confidence to do it."
Doing Zumba hasn't hurt Williams' on-the-field abilities. In fact, the dancing might be improving his footwork.
"Walker is transforming," said Garnett, a highly-rated offensive lineman who will choose among Michigan, Notre Dame and Stanford. "He's going to be really good when he gets to Wisconsin. He's got quick feet."
Williams definitely has "happy feet." He choreographed Tacoma Baptist's senior guys cheer this year and at the Semper Fi All-American Bowl earlier this month he earned a few dancing-relating nicknames, like "Jabba-Walker," "Swag," "Dancin' Man," and "Dougie."
"Whenever you see me, I'm usually dancing," he said. "It's all fun for me."
FOLLOWING A LEGEND
Mercer Island High's Jeff Lindquist chose Washington for his own reasons, but nobody needs to tell him who the last big in-state quarterback was to commit to the home-state Huskies.
It was Jake Locker, who left Ferndale High in 2006.
"I suppose there is some pressure that comes with it, but there is pressure for every quarterback on the (UW) team. It is more important how I perform," said Lindquist, who has met Locker at a couple of Steve Clarkson quarterback camps.
"Still, I will try my best … not to screw (the in-state legacy) up."
WHERE BIG MEN ROAM
One Pacific-12 Conference recruiter can't recall a year like this where offensive-line recruits dominated the region.
Clearly, Garnett and Lakes High's Zach Banner are in a class of their own – with Corvallis High's Isaac Seumalo and Williams closely behind, the college coach said. But that quartet are quality prospects.
"Nathan Dean (of Juanita High) is a guy who two years down the road could be a great offensive tackle. He has the athleticism," the recruiter said. "Sam Flor, from O'Dea, will be a good player because he is smart and tough."
Nine of the 24 first-team and honorable mention "Northwest Nuggets" for 2012 are offensive linemen.
JUST FOLLOWING SUIT
Being selected to the nationally-televised Elite 11 quarterback camp is a big honor – one that Eagle High's Tanner Mangum held high since his early teenage years in Idaho.
His inspiration? Bishop Kelly High standout Cody Hawkins, who became the first Idaho prep quarterback to ever be invited back in 2005.
"Cody … inspired me to be the second Idaho guy," Mangum said.
Last summer, Mangum left as the most talked-about quarterback at the camp after he nabbed co-MVP honors, which certainly thrust him on the national radar.
"It wasn't just for myself," the Brigham Young commit said, "but also for the state of Idaho."
EXTRA POINTS
Ten members of this year's class were invited to the three all-star games – the U.S. Army All-American Bowl (Texas), the Under Armour All-American game (Florida) and the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl (Arizona). … Newport High (Ore.) senior Oshay Dunmore is listed as an athlete because he was a standout at both quarterback and in the defensive backfield, but will likely play safety at Oregon. He also is one of the best decathletes in the country – his 6,634 points last season ranked him No. 2 in the country at the high school level. … Connell High's Matt Hadley set the all-time career scoring marks in Washington as a running back in touchdowns (124) and points scored (746). He also projects as a safety at BYU.
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/preps
Twitter: @DougPaceyTNT
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.