Purcell junior Brody Walkup is the kind of two-way player every high school football program leans on when the season turns tough. Walkup embraces both the physical and mental grind that comes with being one of the team’s key contributors. “I play defensive end and tight end. Summer workouts have been great, I have been in the gym working on my athleticism, speed, strength, and overall mentally preparing for the big season ahead of me.”
Last season taught Walkup that the sport is about more than what shows up on the scoreboard. “The most important lesson I learned from last season is that no matter the outcome of the game, the scoreboard, or any situation, you have a team full of brothers and mentors, and without them, you have nothing. I learned that giving it your all is far more valuable than winning a game or getting your stats up. Hard work beats talent.”
Walkup credits his parents for shaping his mindset and resilience and said his faith guides the way he approaches both school and sports. “My mom and dad are my biggest inspirations; I look up to them and hope to be just like them one day. They teach me not to give up when times are hard, and to put a smile on your face, dig your feet in the ground, and push yourself to the fullest. I also give all the glory to the man upstairs, because of him I am able to be the student-athlete I strive to be.”
He also points to former teammate as someone who helped him unlock another level of confidence on the field. “One teammate who has left a great impression that has been with me for a while is Aron Barrera. After every tackle, sack, pass deflection, scoop and score, or anything that I did, he was there to hype me up, and smack me in the helmet and say ‘see, I knew you had it, don’t give up bro!’ That hit me harder than anything ever has, and I’m forever grateful for the impact he left for me.”
Looking ahead, Walkup said he is interested in owning his own HVAC company or pursuing college football or baseball while studying environmental science. “I would like to own my own HVAC company or go to college to play college football/baseball and continue a degree in Environmental Science.”
