Walker Award stays in Huntington family

Huntington placekicker Jordan Price is the recipient of this year’s Fulton Walker Award, given to the most outstanding player on special teams. (Photo by Ryan Fischer/The Herald-Dispatch)

HUNTINGTON — Jordan Price followed Jonny Aya-ay in more ways than one.

Price not only followed Aya-ay, as Huntington High School’s kicker, he won the Fulton Walker Award as the premier special teams player in West Virginia High School football one year after his predecessor accomplished the feat.

The Walker Award winner is selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

Price and Aya-ay join Cason Kessinger as winners of the honor. Kessinger did it in 2016. Huntington High players have won the award three times in 11 years, more than any other school.

Price, a senior, made 9 of 11 field goal attempts, with a long of 43 yards, and 42 of 43 extra-point tries. He averaged 36.1 yards per punt and 66.2 yards per kickoff.

“Jordan probably has the strongest leg of anyone we’ve had kick here,” Highlanders coach Billy Seals said. “We’ve had some tremendous kickers here. We’ve been blessed with a lineage of some great kickers. Coach (Bob) Watts does a terrific job with the kickers. Every one of them was an all-stater.”

Price transferred to Huntington High from George Washington during the offseason.

“Jonny and I are close,” Price said of Aya-ay. “We had competition at camps, and him telling me his story here really made me want to come in and see what I could do. I think it’s a better environment for me. The coaches let special teams take precedence, and they go with the guy they have. That was a big drive in me winding up here.”

Price helped the Highlanders to an 11-2 record and the state semifinals, in which they fell to state champion Martinsburg 35-34. Coincidentally, Walker played at Martinsburg before starring at West Virginia University and in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Raiders.

“He had a great year for us,” Seals said of Price. “His kickoffs probably have helped us more than anything. He puts them in the end zone. His touchback rate is over 80%. Any time you can make a team have to go 80 yards to score, that’s an advantage for you.”

College coaches have noticed Price. The University of Pikeville was the first to offer him a scholarship. West Liberty, West Virginia State and Glenville State have followed.

Price said he plans to major in sports medicine/exercise science. He said he picked that option as a freshman when he found he was too out of shape to play soccer and too weak to play football.

He started kicking with then-GW and current Appalachian State kicker Michael Hughes, who coaxed him into weightlifting and conditioning, piquing his interest in the sports medicine field.

That Price left George Washington for Huntington continued a pattern for him.

“I’ve never really stayed in one spot my whole life,” said Price, who went to elementary school in Mink Shoals, moved to Richardson, Texas, came back to Mink Shoals, then went to Charleston Catholic for middle school before GW and Huntington High.

Price said he thrives on competition.

“I feel like if I’d been here all four years with Jonny, I’d be where he was,” Price said.

The strong-legged kicker said through all the moving his faith has kept him strong.

“My own faith outside of sports has carried through into sports and helped me to be a better person, teammate and player,” Price said. “I’m thankful for the season we’ve had, my teammates and coaches. Coach Seals especially. I’m grateful for my parents and all the people who have influenced me.”

Price will be recognized at the 78th annual Victory Awards Dinner on May 24 at the Bridgeport Convention Center.