Sparkman football player professes ‘school over sports’
HARVEST – The anticipated starting offensive line for the Sparkman Senators averages 267 pounds per player with the total weight of 1,335 pounds. The trenches this season, carrying more than his share of load, will be led by the only returning starter on the OL Walter “Big Walt” Pruitt (OL, 6-0, 280, Sr.) at center. The two-sport athlete, who also handles duties of heavyweight on the Sparkman wrestling team, possess an additional talent that can be seen in ways that make everyone around him a better person.
“He is the heart and soul of our offensive line,” said Ronnie Watson, in his fourth season as head coach of the Senators. “Walter is a great young man on and off the field. He cares deeply for his community, always willing to help with community service and just honestly anything needed. That’s part of why he is a member of our program’s Leadership Council and looks at as one of our main leaders. You do not find many at this age so empathetic towards others.”
The Senators made it to the first round of the playoffs a season ago with the offense scoring just 26 points per outing. Pruitt is well aware this is his final shot at having his high school career end on a better and stronger note by going deeper in the playoffs. His thought process is simple- personally get better and share his talents with his teammates.
“It will take me to be a team leader, since I’m the only one on the offensive line that has Friday night experience,” said Pruitt. “I’ll have to push the other guys farther than they have pushed themselves.”
Pruitt’s leadership stems from his prowess in the classroom. He carries a 4.2 grade point average and is looking heavily into post-high school by studying in the medical field, possibly becoming a physical therapist, or in engineering. Growing up, Pruitt said has always been led to make school work his priority as his entire life, his academics and athletics meshed, but it’s always been “school over sports.”
“Both my parents went to college. My mom finished while my dad didn’t get to finish,” added Pruitt. “So, my dad’s experience has been there and shows what not to do and what it takes. For me, if I’m sick or miss school, I’m not going to football practice or a football game. If I’m not doing well in school, I’m not going to play football, because my parents know I have the brains to be able to do something and they don’t want me just to waste my talents.”
Much like his blocking on the offensive line where he knows he needs to make the best blocks himself and no rely others to do those for him, Pruitt uses his sell-motivation to excel. He said, “It’s like looking in the mirror, when you awake, take a shower and look at yourself, and me knowing that I can make my body better, that drives me to go to the gym more and workout. I look in that mirror every day and know I can do better for myself.”
“What he does in the classroom with such great grades flows directly to the field with his calls and adjustments on the line,” added Watson. “His leadership in the trenches and level head during times of need have been one of his best traits. In the classroom he truly competes against himself and pushes himself to be the best version of himself he can be. He’s always trying to figure out how to better himself, his team, and family. From a player, student, and as I watched this past summer a Little League baseball coach, he excels at them all. Everything he does, being a great person is his biggest light.”
Big Walt is a leader, a competitor and a coachable student-athlete who continues to make a difference for the Sparkman football team in preps for the 2026 season. He has made his mark on the program, but as avid as he is to being the best, he wants more.
“I have to leave an impression on the young guys, too,” he said. “When I’m gone, Sparkman will still be here, so I have to pass to the younger players the desire to become better.”
