Taking their talents to …

LEESBURG — Lee County quarterback Justin Walker is taking his golden arm, quick feet and savvy up the road to Carrollton, where he will play for the University of West Georgia.

He’ll bring his guitar, too, but what the Wolves want to see is Walker picking apart defenses.

Walker, who set a single-game state record for all classes by throwing for 591 yards against Warner Robins this past year, made a verbal commitment Monday to play for the Wolves, a team he knows better than most.

“I’ve been to a few games there,” said Walker, who is good friends with former Lee County linebacker Will Jones, a junior who plays for West Georgia. “We have gone up to games to see Will play and I made a visit there this year. I really like it there. It’s hard to explain. Sometimes you just know when you like something and you know when you don’t.”

On the same afternoon, bruising Lee County defensive lineman Calvin Johnson also verbally committed and will take his talents to Lane College, which plays in the SIAC — the same conference as Albany State.

West Georgia will no doubt like Walker, who won The Herald’s John Reynolds Player of the Year Award. Walker not only led Lee County to the playoffs, but he threw or more than 3,100 yards and 39 touchdowns. He considered going to Valdosta State and Charleston Southern before deciding on West Georgia, where there is a lot of construction — on and off the field.

“They’re building a lot of new buildings that are sports related, and I’m sure that will help me in my future there,” Walker said. “I liked a lot about the campus. You can’t really focus on one thing. I talked to the coaches and really liked the staff of coaches who are there. It’s going to be a good experience.”

Walker led Lee County to only its the fourth winning season in the school’s history with a wide-open offense that Walker took advantage of by finding targets everywhere on the field. West Georgia used three quarterbacks last year and threw for 1,698 yards.

West Georgia QB Joe Weatherford, who will be a senior, is returning, but Walker sees a bright future with the Wolves.

“I saw them play a few times this year and I like the way they mix up the pass and the run,” Walker said. “They throw a lot. It’s going to really be nice playing close to home. I’m close to home, but I’m still going to be getting out in the world. I’m excited.”

Johnson, meanwhile, is also excited about his commitment, which he will make official in a signing ceremony with Walker at the school Feb. 2 — National Signing Day.

“It will be nice for my parents to come see me play when we play Albany State,” said Johnson, who added that he had a few other offers but chose Lane. “They offered me a full scholarship and it seemed the best place for me.

“I haven’t visited the campus yet, But I’m going to go up in the next few weeks and make a visit.”

Johnson had a big year for Lee County and was a defensive leader, as well as a force on the defensive line, where he made 17 tackles for losses, including five sacks, to help the Trojans reach the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

“I’m satisfied with how I played,” Johnson said. “I just wish it hadn’t ended (in the first round of the playoffs).”