Darius Walker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Darius Walker scores a touchdown for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Stadium |
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| Free Agent — No. 37 | |
| Running back | |
| Date of birth: October 21, 1985 | |
| Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | Weight: 205 lb (93 kg) |
| National Football League debut | |
|---|---|
| 2007 for the Houston Texans | |
| Career history | |
| College: Notre Dame | |
| Undrafted in 2007 | |
Teams:
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NFL.com | |
Darius A'Dunte Walker (born October 21, 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American football running back currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Notre Dame. His father, Jimmy Walker, played on the defensive line at Arkansas for Lou Holtz.
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[edit] High school career
Walker attended Buford High School where he rushed for 5,676 rushing yards and 91 touchdowns and helped his team compile a four-year record of 58-2 and four straight state title game appearances, including three title game victories as part of a 45-game winning streak. In 2003, his senior year, he scored 46 touchdowns, breaking Herschel Walker’s Georgia single-season record of 42. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia and selected as the Georgia prep player of the year for 2003 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
[edit] College career
At Notre Dame, Walker appeared in 36 games over his career, starting 27 of them. He owns the school record for most receptions in a season by a running back (56 in 2006) and most career receptions by a running back (109). He ranks fourth all-time at Notre Dame in rushing yards (3,249), third in all-time carries (693) and third in average yards per game over a career (90.3). He rushed for 100 yards in a game 15 times in his career and scored 26 touchdowns — 23 rushing and three receiving. He led the Irish in rushing in all three seasons becoming just the sixth player in school history to do so the first since Autry Denson (1995-1998). He recorded the sixth-best single-season rushing total in Notre Dame history as a junior when he gained a career-high 1,267 yards on 255 carries (5.0-yard average), scoring seven touchdowns. He became just the fourth Notre Dame running back in school history to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons, joining Vagas Ferguson, Allen Pinkett and Denson. He ran for 1,196 yards on 253 carries (4.7 avg.) and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, openening the season with four rushing performances of 100 yards or more, the first player in Notre Dame history to do so. During his first season for the Irish, he set the freshman rushing record, gaining 786 yards on 185 carries (4.2 avg.), breaking a 30-year-old school record.
Walker's last game with the Irish came on January 3, 2007, in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Sugar Bowl. The Fighting Irish lost to the LSU Tigers 41-14, with Walker contributing 128 rushing and 30 receiving yards.
He announced he would leave Notre Dame for the NFL in a press conference a week after the Sugar Bowl.[1] Walker now attends the University of Houston, but does not play football for the Cougars.[2]
| College Career Off. Statistics | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||
| Year | Team | G | Att | Yards | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LOST |
| 2004 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 11 | 185 | 786 | 4.2 | 40 | 7 | -- | -- |
| 2005 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 12 | 253 | 1,196 | 4.6 | 38 | 3 | -- | -- |
| 2006 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 13 | 255 | 1,267 | 5.0 | 39 | 7 | -- | -- |
| Total | 36 | 693 | 3,249 | 4.6 | 40 | 17 | -- | -- | |
| College Career Off. Statistics | Receiving | ||||||
| Year | Team | G | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TD | LNG |
| 2004 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 11 | 10 | 74 | 7.4 | 0 | 22 |
| 2005 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 12 | 43 | 351 | 8.7 | 2 | 51 |
| 2006 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 13 | 56 | 391 | 7.0 | 1 | 21 |
| Total | 36 | 109 | 816 | 7.4 | 3 | 51 | |
[edit] Professional career
[edit] 2007 NFL Draft
Shortly after the 2007 NFL Draft, Walker verbally agreed to a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears. Several days passed with Walker failing to sign a contract with the team and on May 9, 2007, Walker signed with the Houston Texans.[7]. Walker was subsequently released by the Texans the week before training camp on July 23.[8] Walker re-signed with the Houston Texans on July 28, following the season ending injury of Chris Taylor,[9] but was released by Houston prior to the start of the regular season, before being signed to the practice squad[10].
[edit] 2007
On November 20, he was promoted to the active roster[11] due to a lingering injury to Ahman Green. In Week 14, Walker led the team with 16 carries for 46 yards and finishing second on the team with six receptions for 35 yards against Tampa Bay.
[edit] Career statistics
| Pro. Career Off. Statistics | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||
| Year | Team | G | Att | Yards | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LOST |
| 2007 | Houston Texans | 4 | 58 | 264 | 4.6 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 58 | 264 | 4.6 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Pro. Career Off. Statistics | Receiving | ||||||
| Year | Team | G | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TD | LNG |
| 2007 | Houston Texans | 4 | 13 | 81 | 6.2 | 0 | 9 |
| Total | 4 | 13 | 81 | 6.2 | 0 | 9 | |
[edit] References
- ^ Darius Walker Declares For The NFL Draft. Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
- ^ Wednesdays with Walker. University of Houston. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ http://und.cst5.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/walker_darius00.html
- ^ Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Football
- ^ Player Bio: Darius Walker :: Football
- ^ Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Football
- ^ Texans Sign Notre Dame Running Back Darius Walker. Retrieved on 2007-06-30.
- ^ Ouch, Darius Walker Released Already. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
- ^ Walker Re-signed by Texans. Retrieved on 2007-08-01.
- ^ Hansen, Eric (2007-09-05). Clausen slated to start for Irish against PSU. South Bend Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ Houston Texas 2007 Transactions. ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-23.
