(Baltimore Sun)
By: Gabe Kamins, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Kevin Johnson and Michael Campanaro have a lot in common. They both played for the River Hill football team in the late 2000s after growing up in the same neighborhood. They both made headlines in high school thanks to their elite athleticism and ball skills. They both went on to play in the NFL, becoming the only two River Hill graduates to accomplish this feat. And they both attended Wake Forest University.
It’s beginning to seem like the River Hill to Wake Forest pipeline could be continuing in 2021. Zach Igwebe, the All-County linebacker and running back for the Hawks, received a preferred walk-on offer from the ACC school on February 15th. Igwebe, who has spent his entire high school career on the varsity team, ran for 967 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2019 and was the second-leading tackler on the stout Hawks defense. It should be no surprise to see Igwebe gaining interest from top-level schools – he also picked up an offer from Davidson College back on December 3rd. His powerful running style and stellar knowledge of the game from his linebacker position have allowed him to make a name for himself in Howard County, and he could be doing the same very soon at the next level.
While Igwebe said that he felt “gratitude” when he received the offer from Wake Forest, he also became even more motivated. Although a preferred walk-on offer means that the school wants you to play for the team, it also means that they aren’t offering a scholarship. Thus, after feeling gratitude, Igwebe explained that he “immediately felt something land on [his] shoulder. [He turned his] head, and there it was; a chip.” He then explained that he “started hearing voices in [his] head, saying things like ‘why didn’t they offer you money,’ ‘they ‘PREFERRED’ to not give you a scholarship, and ‘maybe you’re just not cut for it.’” While it may sound crazy to some, this is simply Zach’s way of motivating himself. “I realized I hadn’t earned anything yet, and the hard work was just beginning,” he concluded.
Even if Zach won’t admit it, receiving interest from a Power 5 school is very impressive. The ACC is one of the top conferences in the country, and walk-ons have the opportunity to practice with some of the best players in the country while working their way up the depth chart. Many walk-ons end up earning scholarships down the line, too. With Igwebe’s Hawks opening up their season against Atholton in just a couple of weeks, he is ready to conclude the final chapter of his high school career on a high note, and enter college – whether at Wake Forest or another school – playing the best football of his life.
UPDATE: On March 5th, Igwebe officially announced his commitment to Wake Forest University. Congratulations, Zach!