Biaggio Ali Walsh may be the grandson of the greatest boxer of all time, but he’s already making his own name in the world of sports. After a season with 36 total touchdowns for the Nevada State Champions, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV), the all-purpose back from the Class of 2017 is taking high school football by storm. Despite the sudden burst of attention, Ali-Walsh has still only received offers from Louisville and UNLV. “Right now I’ve just been patient. I’m just waiting for everything to fall into place, so I’m just being patient and relaxing now because I finally get a chance to relax. I’m not letting it stress me out. I’m just gonna let everything fall into place.” Ali Walsh said on his recruitment thus far.

 

   Biaggio Ali Walsh was born on January 13, 1998. His mother, Rasheda Ali-Walsh, is the daughter of the famed boxer, Muhammad Ali. It is clear that having a grandfather like Muhammad Ali has had a huge impact on Biaggio, as he says, “Having him as my grandfather inspires me because it’s not that I’m looking up to just an idol, I’m looking up to a relative who’s also an idol. I feel like that inspires me the most,” For Ali Walsh, being the grandson of the greatest boxer of all time can be a double-edged sword, but he is sure to stay humble through it all: “I’ve faced it well. My parents tell me to keep my head straight and always stay humble. I feel like I’m naturally humble.” he said, “I don’t like the attitude of walking around with a big head like I have this and I have that.”

 

   While he may get most of his attention due to his famed family, Walsh’s game is not to be overlooked. After a breakout Junior season, Ali-Walsh won the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Nevada, and he’s not finished yet. “I want to work on cuts and my juking a lot more. Usually, when I find the hole, I just run through it as fast as I can, that’s what I’m supposed to do, but if I’m in a situation where I have to cut fast or juke, I want to get better and I’m gonna work on that this offseason,” One factor that played a part in his breakout season was the amount of trust the coaching staff at Bishop Gorman had in putting the ball in his hands: “Last season, I had to wrestle with sharing the ball,” he said.  “Every once in awhile, I would get the ball and sometimes it would get to my head, more playing time and what not. I worked harder and worked on my vision, speed, and size, so I feel that working on that in the offseason really paid off this season and I’m just glad with the outcome.” said Walsh. With his Junior season in the books and his Senior year awaiting, Ali Walsh will rise through the high school ranks and be quite the dominant force.

 

   All of his hard work paid off as Bishop Gorman High School won the Nevada State Championship for the seventh straight year, defeating Henderson Liberty by a crushing score of 62-21. Ali-Walsh had three touchdowns in the game, all of them in the first half of the game. Winning the State Championship was definitely a defining moment in Ali-Walsh’s career. “It felt great. I felt like everything we did in the offseason paid off. Our team worked so hard in the weight room and on the field every day. I feel like it all just paid off. It was an awesome season.” Ali-Walsh explained.

 

   Biaggio Ali-Walsh may only have two scholarship offers, but with a breakout Junior season, his senior year of high school coming up, and plenty of awards and accolades to his name, Biaggio Ali-Walsh will be a player to look out for. As the grandson of Muhammad Ali, he will also continue to take his grandfather as a way of inspiration: “There have been a lot of quotes that I have read from him, like, ‘Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion’ and that always keeps me going, especially at times when I’m suffering.” If one thing’s for sure, Biaggio Ali Walsh is making a name for himself.