1991 Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year
Chris Walsh, Cretin-Durham Hall High School (St. Paul, Minnesota). QB 6’3″ 195 lbs.
The University of Miami is known for producing championships and championship quarterbacks, such as the Buffalo Bills’ Jim Kelly, the Cleveland Browns’ Bernie Kosar, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Vinny Testaverde — and the New Orleans Saints’ Steve Walsh.
Steve Walsh’s younger brother, Chris, grew up watching his brother play for the Hurricanes and now figures to be the next star in Miami’s galaxy of quarterbacks.
As a starter in his junior and senior seasons, Chris Walsh directed his Cretin-Derham Hall team to a combined record of 23-3, including an 11-1 mark in 1991. In 1991, the Raiders lost a state semi-final game by only one point, and in 1990, they lost a quarter-final game by only two points.
Walsh, who at 6-3 and 195 pounds is bigger and stronger than his brother was in high school, completed more than 60 per-cent of his passes for 4,513 yards and 45 touchdowns in his high school career. He threw only 11 interceptions during that time.
Walsh’s statistics were reduced in 1991 because the Raiders were so dominating that Walsh sat out the second half of four games. The 11-1 Raiders also featured a powerful running game in 1991, with one running back scoring 23 rushing touchdowns.
Walsh has been selected as a high school All-American by PARADE Magazine, ESPN, USA TODAY, the Associated Press and Super Prep, as well as being picked as the Gatorade Circle of Champions 1991 National High School Player of the Year.
Mal Scanlan, the head coach for Cretin-Derham Hall, coached both of the Walsh brothers, so he has a unique perspective.
He was asked to compare the two quar-terback brothers. “That’s a tough question,” he replied. “They have two different styles. Chris and Steve’s gifts are much different, but they both get the job done.
“For example, when Steve went to Miami, he was only 162 pounds, so he had to work on building his physical skills. Chris is much bigger and stronger, and like Steve, has a tremendous vision of the football field. That’s why his completion rate was so high and why his interception totals were so low,” added Scanlon.
“Steve has a tremendous mental understanding of the game and was very advanced for his age in that respect. I see that same sense in Chris, and expect that as he develops it, he can be a great one, too.
“I fully expect Chris to carry on in the Miami tradition,” continued Scanlon. “Mi-ami has gotten another good one, and I know they’ll surround him with great talent.”