With our countdown half finished at the 50-day mark and the human tendency to specially mark factors of ten, today we bring a two-part series on #50 Tre Walker. Walker, an outside linebacker who started the 2012 season with ambitions of starting in a BCS Bowl, saw his dreams crumble when his knee buckled against Texas Tech and he was lost for the year.
Jarell Childs slid into Walker’s spot and filled in admirably the rest of the season, but the depth and leadership that was lost when he went down handicapped the defense the rest of the season. Walker burst onto the scene in 2011 against Miami when his tackle completed a goal line stand that helped K-State complete the upset, and went on to record 52 tackles that year. He played in all 13 games, starting 11, and also provided three pass break ups and a forced fumble. Albeit, it may not be fair to say he burst onto the scene in 2011 against Miami. Although that was his best game of the year with eight stops, in 2010 he played in every game as a true freshman and was named a freshman All-American by Phil Steele after totaling 47 tackles.
Regardless of when he captured the nation’s attention, no one can dispute his most frightening moment was laying on the field against Texas Tech. Suffering a partially torn Walker’s rehabilitation has been a trying ordeal, documented in this four minute video:
Walker has spoken at length about his motivators this past spring. A religious player, he has been outspoken about using his faith to help get through the ordeal. He is also determined to pick up where he left off. When he went down after a hard plant, he left the team at 8-0 and #3 in the nation with 19 tackles on the season, including three for loss. Yet he was unable to experience playing in the Fiesta Bowl. He’s determined to bounce back with his eyes on All-Big 12 recognition and another conference championship, so come back this afternoon when The Jug gives its projections for Tre Walker’s senior year.