ORLANDO, Fla -- On National Early Signing Day, Osceola defensive tackle John Walker put pen to paper.

"You know its been a long stressful process and I’m so glad it’s over and it worked," said Walker.

A sigh of relief as he rounds out his time in high school as a four-star recruit and one of the top players in the state of Florida. That is just part of his story.

"Like I told his dad earlier if God created a perfect student athlete it would be John Walker," said Osceola football coach Eric Pinellas. 

John Walker is the kind of student athlete who walks with humility and kindness, but is a giant on the football field.

"We have a young man who plays JV football for us, probably his first year every playing football. He’s a 10th or 11th grader," shared Pinellas. "Every day John will stay with him after practice and just go through drills with him to try and help him get better. I mean every day, I don't care if it was a grueling practice, one day I just sat there and just watched. It was really impressive but that just shows you the character of him and the kind of kid it is."

Between his character and on the field ability, it was natural that John would get attention. Gus Malzahn admits he began recruiting Walker when he was still the head coach at Auburn. When he joined UCF, he contiued to foster that relationship and push to win over the local talent.

"I've been blessed to coach soome really good defensive lineman, top ten picks," said UCF football coach Gus Malzahn. "All I can say is his skill set he has a chance. He is a wonderful person with great character and a great family. You have that side and then the side of one of the top players in the country. He could;ve chosen to go anywhere, he chose to stay here, stay home."

Malzahn even going as far to describe John as a program changer, already showing up at Knights practices over the last few weeks before early enrolling.

"All the schools great schools, couldn't go wrong, but at the end just beign raised in Central Florida we thought lets make things special here at home," said John's father John Walker.

All these offers, so why stay home?

"I’m a guy that really wants to help my family and make it out. I jut wanna make my family happy," said Walker. All the sacrifices they’ve done for me. They missed meals just so I could eat. I’m just really thankful for everything they've done for me."

"Lot of sacrifices, just very proud of him. I couldnt ask for a better kid," said Walker's father. "God’s blessed us with an amazing family, friends who kind of help us get him to where we need him to be."

While John is already getting a head start with the Knights, creating a real chance to start on the defensive line as a freshman next season, his vision goes well beyond.

"My goal is winning a national championship and climbing that mountain at UCF and getting better every year and winning," said Walker.