The Monarchists Podcast: A Conversation with Charles Walls

In a recent episode of The Monarchists Podcast, hosts Aaron and Mike caught up with one of Old Dominion University’s (ODU) most successful football alumni: Charles Walls, the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles. The broad-ranging conversation mapped Walls’ journey from a center on ODU’s inaugural football squad to an elite NFL front-office executive, peeling back the curtain on the grueling, year-round world of NFL scouting and player evaluation.

From the "Plaza Browns" to ODU’s Inaugural Squad

Walls, a Virginia Beach native, grew up playing neighborhood football where locals nicknamed him "Warren Sapp"; sparking an initial desire to play defense. However, inspired by the style of NFL center LeCharles Bentley and a realistic appraisal of his own frame (just under 6'2" and lacking 4.6 speed), he eventually transitioned to the offensive line.

Before signing with ODU, Walls was committed to Kent State. He shifted his allegiance closer to home following Appalachian State's historic 2007 upset of Michigan. Witnessing that game made him realize he didn't need to travel far to make a massive impact. Additionally, his father, a foreman, had actually paved the parking lot in front of ODU’s training facility, providing a deeply personal tie to the campus.

Reflecting on his time under Coach Bobby Wilder on the inaugural 2009 ODU team, Walls described a grueling environment designed to weed out those who didn't truly love the game.

"I feel like I didn't see the sun until the spring came," Walls joked, recalling intense daily practices while other college freshmen looked forward to Friday walkthroughs.

The military-grade work ethic paid dividends. Walls recalled arriving on campus at 286 pounds and 33.5% body fat, only to drop to a lean 255 pounds and 20% body fat by Halloween. Alongside a mandatory 15 hours of weekly study hall, the program forged a roster that would quickly take the CAA by storm. Walls credited program pillars like Taylor Heinicke, Thomas DeMarco, and Hofstra transfers Ronnie Cameron and Deron Mayo for permanently shifting ODU's culture toward elite competition.

Breaking Into the NFL Front Office

Severe knee injuries cut Walls' playing career short, but ODU’s coaching staff immediately threw him into coaching and recruiting responsibilities rather than making him run typical intern errands. While serving as the program's assistant pro liaison, Walls met Tim Terry, a Green Bay Packers executive (now with the Kansas City Chiefs). A long conversation spent reviewing film culminated in Terry asking Walls if he had ever considered scouting.

That connection landed Walls an intense interview in Green Bay alongside a pool of competitors consisting entirely of former NFL and college players who had become lawyers. Tasked with evaluating a list of players and delivering a live presentation on draft rankings, Walls excelled. Glenn Cook, now the assistant GM for the Cleveland Browns, later told Walls they knew they had to hire him the moment he started talking football.

Walls spent 2013 to 2020 with the Packers, describing it as a "football factory" under late GM Ted Thompson. To accelerate his scouting acumen, Walls spent an hour a day inside Green Bay's legendary film vault, reading scouting reports dating back to the 1980s written by personnel icons like Ron Wolf.

The Reality of NFL Scouting & The Transfer Portal

Now an executive in Philadelphia working alongside Howie Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie, Walls pulled back the curtain on how NFL front offices actually operate.

Scouting Topic Charles Walls' Insight
The Draft Cycle

It is a strict 12-month process. Early identification begins in the summer, thorough evaluation occurs in the fall, and events like the combine and Top 30 visits serve to narrow down the board.

Resolving Debates

Front offices use a collaborative hybrid model. Evaluators look at film, loop in analytics modeling, and leverage coaching staff opinions to determine schematic fit and positional value.

The "Gritty" Work

Scouting goes far beyond watching tape. Walls recalled flying down to Mississippi State to play Madden with defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons and his family to thoroughly vet his character.


Walls also offered a nuanced perspective on college football's modern landscape, particularly the transfer portal. While acknowledging that the portal creates obstacles because "anybody can put on a front for a year," he emphasized that it isn't all bad. He noted it allows evaluators to see small-school talent instantly test themselves against Power 5 competition without restriction. He highlighted recent examples like wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (who transferred from JMU to Indiana before being drafted by the Ravens) and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as positive bi-products of the portal.

Chasing Championships and Giving Back

Having experienced both the devastating heartbreak of losing a Super Bowl in 2022 and the elation of winning it all in 2024, Walls emphasized the unique, unyielding standard maintained in the Eagles' building. When they received their 2022 NFC Championship rings, Walls recalled that "nobody was happy... it was almost like an insult," which fueled their championship run two seasons later.

Despite his busy NFL schedule, Walls frequently returns to Norfolk to mentor local high school athletes, speak with the ODU Alumni Association, and connect with current Monarch players. Looking at the upgraded S.B. Ballard Stadium and L.R. Hill sports complex, Walls expressed immense pride in how far the program has come, calling it a "real Division I program" that he continuously pitches to the next generation of athletes.