CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.  –  The Virginia football program announced today (April 17) it has added a transfer, according to head coach Bronco Mendenhall. Running back Ronnie Walker Jr. of Indiana has signed a grant-in-aid document and will enroll at UVA this summer and will have two years of eligibility for the Cavaliers. Walker will have to sit out the 2020 season to serve a year of residence due to the NCAA transfer rule. 
 
Walker (Hopewell, Va.) appeared in 22 career games for Indiana over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. During his Indiana career, Walker rushed 59 times for 221 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 12 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown. As a freshman in 2018, Walker rushed 32 times for 141 yards (4.4 average) with two touchdowns, including one that came on a 30-yard sprint against then-No. 18 Penn State. Walker earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2019 after playing in all 13 games.
 
Walker had a tremendous career at Hopewell (Va.) High School for head coach Ricky Irby. Walker was a two-time all-state and all-region section that led Hopewell to the 2017 state title. As a senior, Walker rushed for 1,344 yards on 216 carries (6.2 average) with 19 touchdowns. He posted 122 yards on the ground with three touchdowns in the state semifinal game. Walker was named the 2016 Region 3A East Player of the Year and Conference 26 Player of the Year as a junior after rushing for 2,011 yards on 250 carries (8.0 average) and 25 touchdowns in 14 games. Walker also qualified for regionals in the 100-meter dash and the shot put. 
 
Ronnie Walker Jr.
5-11 • 210 • RB
Hopewell, Va. • Hopewell HS/Indiana
 
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
A transfer from Indiana where he spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons as a running back … appeared in 22 career games at Indiana … rushed 59 times for 221 times and two touchdowns over his IU career … also caught 12 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown …  as a freshman he rushed 32 times for 141 yards (4.4 average) with two touchdowns, including one that came on a 30-yard sprint against then-No. 18 Penn State … earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2019 after playing in all 13 games … enrolled at Indiana in the spring of 2018 and participated in spring practices.
 
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
Played running back at Hopewell High School for head coach Ricky Irby … two-time all-state and all-region selection led Hopewell to the 2017 state title … rushed for 1,344 yards on 216 carries (6.2 average) with 19 touchdowns … averaged 89.6 yards per game … added 100 receiving yards and one score … posted 122 yards on the ground with three TDs in the state semifinal game … named the 2016 Region 3A East Player of the Year and the Conference 26 Player of the Year … carried the ball 250 times for 2,011 yards (8.0) with 25 touchdowns in 14 games (143.6 per game) … ranked the No. 21 running back nationally by 247Sports and the No. 6 prospect in Virginia by ESPN … qualified for regionals in the 100-meter dash and the shot put … parents are Ronnie Walker Sr. and LaKeesha Hayes-Winfield.