When Casey Walls signed as the San Jose Earthquakes’ seventh Homegrown Player back in November, he was in store for a huge life change. Previously commuting to the Quakes Academy from Mill Valley, more than 100 miles round trip, Walls would soon be out on his own and tasked with competing against players up to 20 years his senior.
Already standing 6’2, Walls doesn’t have the sort of physical barriers other young players may have upon entering Major League Soccer, especially at center back. However, just turning 17 earlier this month, and the second youngest player with the team in Cancún (Cowell – 16), the London native has plenty of room to grow in stature and mentality as the days pass by.