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As of last Friday, IU freshman running back Ronnie Walker has yet to sit down with running backs coach Mike Hart to discuss Walker's developmental plan through the end of winter and heading into spring.

However, Walker, an early enrollee, isn't sitting on his hands waiting for direction. He already has a pretty good idea of what Hart would like him to improve upon.

"I think he'd want me to work on all aspects," Walker said. "Be an all-around player."

Walker was one of 23 Hoosiers who stayed true to their verbal commitment and signed with the program during the first-ever early signing period, which ran Dec. 20-22. He's also one of four early enrollees from that class who joined the program at the start of the spring semester, joining defensive end James Head, wide receiver Jacolby Hewitt and quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

The former Hopewell (Va.) High standout was highly regarded out of high school. Rivals pegged the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Walker as its No. 22 running back nationally and No. 11 player in the state of Virginia.

During his recruitment process, Walker said Hart like his vision and speed, traits that showed up in multiple facets.

Walker self-reported a 40-yard dash time of 4.49 seconds and vertical leap of 36 inches. He carried the ball 216 times for 1,344 yards and 19 touchdowns and also recorded four receptions for 100 yards and one score during his senior season.

Along the way, he was named Class 3 first team All-State by the Virginia High School League as a senior, offensive player of the year and first team all-conference by coaches of Conference 26 as a junior and also won the conference track and field championships in the shot-put and 100 meter dash.

Developing the second part of that stat line is what he's going to emphasize this spring, among other areas.

"Something I want to focus on his my catching," Walker said. "I think I have everything down other than my power, vision, all those things. But I think I can get those even better, plus my catching because in high school I didn't really catch the ball out of the backfield."

When spring practices begin March 3, Walker will be working within a running back group with a wide range of experience.

Mike Majette will be a senior. Morgan Ellison, IU's leading rusher as a true freshman in 2017, will be a sophomore. There's also redshirt senior running back Ricky Brookins, who proved reliable as the Hoosiers' third-down back. Redshirt sophomore Cole Gest and redshirt freshman Craig Nelson round out the position room.

That's a lengthy way of saying Walker likely won't be the feature back or experience the same workload he had last fall at Hopewell.

However, like last week, he won't sit back and wait.

"If (splitting carries) is the case, I'm ready," Walker said. "But I'm going to work my tail off so I can get the spot."

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