Thornwood defensive end Tyshon Waller said he likes the way Indiana State's football program is moving and thought it was the place for him.
He signed his letter of intent on Wednesday morning to play for coach Trent Miles and the Sycamores.
The Sycamores were once a laughing-stock of a program, having lost 33 consecutive game until Miles took over after the 2007 season. The last two years, Indiana State was 6-5 and was ranked No. 25 at one point in the FCS poll.
"They are turning their program around and I want to be a part of it," Waller said. "Indiana State is a good football program and they were in the top 25 for awhile."
He compares it to Thornwood's turnaround under Will Milhouse. The program struggled, but won four games in 2010 and five in 2011. The Thunderbirds just missed making the IHSA playoffs.
"I want to be able to help them (Indiana State) make it to the (NCAA Division I) playoffs," Waller said. "I was part of that change at Thronwood and it felt good to get the program going in the right direction."
He also felt comfortable with Miles and the Sycamores staff.
I liked everything when I visited," he said. "Coach Miles and the staff, the players, and it is a good school."
Waller was a Times honorable mention pick and was named to the SouthWest Suburban Red Conference first team. He had 45 solo tackles, 22 assists, 10 sacks and 16 tackles-for-loss.
Milhouse said he was a difference maker who led by example.
"Tyshon Waller is an outstanding football player and students while at Thornwood High School," Milhouse said. "He is the most dominate player at Thornwood in a very long time. He will go on and have great career at Indiana State."
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