Central Michigan University Athletics
Weight over: Trimmer LT Poised for Breakout Year
8/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com -
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Leterrius Walton entered Central Michigan spring football practice some 25 pounds lighter than he was a year ago.
And it was clear immediately that a leaner Walton is a better Walton, and a better Walton means a better CMU defense.
"LT, he had a tremendous spring," said Central Michigan coach Dan Enos of Walton, a now-300-pound defensive tackle who appears poised for a breakout senior season. "He was dominant at times in the spring. There were times last year when he played that way, but he was inconsistent.
"But we saw him do it this spring for the entire spring, and you need a guy in there that the other team has to gameplan for and we're hoping LT can be that guy."
Walton indeed did play, at times, like a bear a year ago, when he started all 12 games and made 34 tackles as the Chippewas finished 6-6.
So dominant was his performance in CMU's spring game that he was removed from the contest by the coaches, the better to allow the opposing offense to produce.
"I knew that losing 25 pounds over the off-season would make me a better player overall, and me doing that just puts me, and the team, in a better situation," said Walton, who last season recorded 9 ½ tackles for loss, second best on the team. "I know that going into this season that I feel confident knowing that I'm capable of performing the best that I can."
As a senior, Walton is a veteran of the program, and he has been part of a pragmatic and, at times, painstaking growth under Enos, who is now in his fifth season.
The Chippewas won three games in 2012, Walton's freshman year; then seven in 2013.
CMU was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division by media covering the league, but Walton said the Chippewas are better than that, and through the spring and now into August practices that feeling is palpable among him and his teammates.
"We're looking to win a MAC championship this season," Walton said. "We are very, very confident about the season. We're all on the same page.
"We're putting everything we've got into this season because we know how to do it, we know how to go about everything."
Part of that know-how stems from experience. Walton is one of a number of returning starters along the defensive front, a key component to a defense that ranked third in the MAC last season against the pass and fourth in interceptions.
While experience is critical, so too is coaching. George Ricumstrict is entering his season as the Chippewas' defensive line coach.
"He's made a huge difference," Walton said. "I feel like coach Ric brings a lot of knowledge to that defensive line room and also he knows how to talk to each individual player and coaches them the way that they need to be coached in order for them to be most effective. He's brought us a long way."
Coaching and experience aside, Walton knows that, as a senior and the mainstay on the defensive front, it's his - and the Chippewas' - time to shine.
"We hold everybody accountable, we hold ourselves to high expectations - we're going to do some things," he said. "To be a more vocal leader as a senior, that's expected. People look up to me and I know my actions on the field are going to stand out."
