Football experience lifts Cox to play at USC

EASLEY — Walker Cox is a classic example of how much it helps to play multiple sports when growing up.

He is primarily known as a standout pitcher for the Easley High School baseball team.

Going into last season, Kaleb Owens entered the year as the No. 1 starter for Coach Gill Payne’s Green Wave baseball team. But then, Cox stepped up on the mound as a sophomore to the tune of: A 6-0 pitching record, 2.08 ERA in 40.1 innings, only 21 walks and 48 strikeouts.

Then, he recently committed to continue his baseball career at the University of South Carolina.

But for the 16-year-old Cox, it’s been the journey of growing up and playing more than just baseball.

He played basketball through eighth grade. Then, he played football from kindergarten through his sophomore season of high school.

Cox had a certain wakeup call when he was out for football.

“I can remember the day that I walked into the weight room,” Cox said. “I hadn’t even started my freshman year of school, but I walked in (the weight room) and said I’m not there yet. It was really that moment when it was the time to start – you gotta get better if you want to be where you wanna be. I hadn’t really been focused on working out.”

He continued, “I would definitely attribute football for getting me in the weight room and keeping me in the weight room. It gives you a lot of great habits. I would give football a lot of credit for who I am today and a lot of the things I have become today. I would 100 percent say football has been a reason for my success.”

Cox said it was a tough decision to step down from football, but he did not want to take the risk of getting injured.

This past summer, Cox also turned in a couple of top-notch performances in the Senior Little League World Series and the Palmetto Games.

Walker’s mom, Liz, is a graduate of USC and she took some time to comment on her son.

“I went to USC and am so happy for him, but not because I went there,” Liz said. “I’m happy because I think it’s a great fit for him. The energy and excitement from the coaches about both the program and Walker was all that I could hope for him. I’m so thankful and proud.”

Extra boost from Coach Payne: Not to be overlooked is Easley High School baseball coach and Athletic Director Gill Payne who was a successful college coach and he also served four years as a professional scout for the Florida Marlins.

Payne has known Terry Rooney, who is the Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at USC, the past 20-plus years. Rooney is in his first year on the job at USC.

“As soon as I found out he (Rooney) got the job (at USC), I shot him a message with a video of Walker Cox and said you need to take a look at this guy,” said Payne. “He replied and said thanks, and he’ll see him down the road. He saw him pitch on (a recent) Sunday and, at 3:30 p.m. that day, he said I saw your guy pitch. We want him. He said I’ve seen a lot of guys, but this guy has a huge upside. He talked to Walker when he was leaving the park. I told Walker I’ve know this guy (Rooney) for a long time. If he tells you he wants you, it’s not a case that they over-recruit you and cut you loose.”

Payne said he did sit down and talk to Walker before he made the big decision.

“I asked him what’s the negative about South Carolina?” Payne said. “He said I don’t have one. Coach Rooney was very energetic and I really liked talking to him. I said it’s the ACC and – in my opinion – it is by far the best baseball in the country. He said you’re right. I said think about it and call me if you or or mom and dad have any questions.”

Cox later texted Coach Payne and said he committed to USC.

Clutch in the classroom: Walker said his overall grade point average at Easley High School is a 4.946. So, that is another reason it made it easy for USC to offer him a big-time scholarship.