Darius Walker
Encyclopedia
Darius A'Dunte Walker is an American football
running back
who is a free agent
in the National Football League
. He was signed by the Houston Texans
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
at Notre Dame
.
Walker has also been a member of the St. Louis Rams
.
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.
, Walker 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, opening 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 average), 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. Walker attended the University of Houston
in 2008, but did not play football for the Cougars
. In 2009 Walker returned to the University of Notre Dame to finish his degree.
, 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
. Walker was subsequently released by the Texans the week before training camp on July 23. Walker re-signed with the Houston Texans on July 28, following the season-ending injury of Chris Taylor
, but was released by Houston prior to the start of the regular season, before being signed to the practice squad.
On November 20, he was promoted to the active roster 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
.
On August 29, 2008, the Texans released him. Walker was signed to the Texans practice squad, but he was later re-signed to the active roster. Walker was waived on October 25 when the team promoted running back
Ryan Moats
from its practice squad.
on November 4, 2008. He was released on November 12 when the team re-signed safety David Roach
.
on November 25, 2008 when the team placed Ahman Green
on the reserve/injured list.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
.
Walker has also been a member of the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
.
Early years
Walker attended Buford High SchoolBuford High School
Buford High School is a public four year comprehensive high school located in the northern portion of Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA, in the northern Metro Atlanta area. Buford High School serves the community of Buford.-History:...
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.
College career
At Notre DameNotre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, Walker 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
Autry Denson
Autry Denson is a former professional American football player who played running back for four seasons for the Miami Dolphins, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Chicago Bears.-College:...
(1995
1995 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Alliance and was a relatively calm year compared to the early 1990s.Tom Osborne led Nebraska to its second straight national title with a victory over Florida in the Fiesta Bowl....
–1998
1998 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first of the Bowl Championship Series, which saw Tennessee win the national championship, one year after star quarterback Peyton Manning left for the NFL...
). 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
Vagas Ferguson
Vagas Ferguson was a star running back for the University of Notre Dame who continued on to the National Football League for three seasons with the New England Patriots, who drafted him in the first round, the Cleveland Browns, and the Houston Oilers.In 1979, his senior season at Notre Dame,...
, Allen Pinkett
Allen Pinkett
Allen Pinkett is a former professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Houston Oilers. He grew up in the Sterling, Virginia area and attended Park View High School there in the early 1980s.-Playing career:Pinkett was a two-time All-American at Notre Dame...
and Denson. He ran for 1,196 yards on 253 carries (4.7 avg) and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, opening 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 average), breaking a 30-year-old school record.
Walker's last game with the Irish came on January 3, 2007, in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
at the Sugar Bowl
2007 Sugar Bowl
The 2007 Allstate Sugar Bowl Game was a college football bowl game, which formed part of the 2006–2007 Bowl Championship Series of the 2006 NCAA Division I-BS football season. Played on January 3, 2007, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, it was the 73rd Sugar Bowl...
. The Fighting Irish lost to the LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
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. Walker attended the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
in 2008, but did not play football for the Cougars
Houston Cougars football
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH" . The UH football program is currently a member of the Conference USA intercollegiate athletic conference, and is coached by...
. In 2009 Walker returned to the University of Notre Dame to finish his degree.
Statistics
| College Career Off. Statistics | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||
| Year | Team | G | Att | Yards | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LOST |
| 2004 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season The 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with several undefeated teams vying for a spot in the national title game, triggering controversy. In the 2003 season, no team finished the regular season unbeaten, and five teams finished the season with one loss... |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2004 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 2004 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was the college football team that represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tyrone Willingham, and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.- Season... |
11 | 185 | 786 | 4.2 | 40 | 7 | -- | -- |
| 2005 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season The 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the least amount of controversy surrounding the Bowl Championship Series title game in many years.To an extent it was a return to classic football... |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2005 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 2005 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was a college football team who represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Charlie Weis in his first year as head coach, and played their home games at Notre Dame Stadium... |
12 | 253 | 1,196 | 4.6 | 38 | 3 | -- | -- |
| 2006 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was a college football team which represented the University of Notre Dame during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Charlie Weis in his second year as head coach and played their home football games at Notre Dame... |
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 |
First stint with Texans
Shortly after the 2007 NFL Draft2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
, Walker verbally agreed to a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
contract with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Several days passed with Walker failing to sign a contract with the team and on May 9, 2007, Walker signed with the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Walker was subsequently released by the Texans the week before training camp on July 23. Walker re-signed with the Houston Texans on July 28, following the season-ending injury of Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor (football player)
Christopher Taylor is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, but was released by Houston prior to the start of the regular season, before being signed to the practice squad.
On November 20, he was promoted to the active roster due to a lingering injury to Ahman Green
Ahman Green
Ahman Rashad Green is a retired American football running back. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
. 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
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.
On August 29, 2008, the Texans released him. Walker was signed to the Texans practice squad, but he was later re-signed to the active roster. Walker was waived on October 25 when the team promoted running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Ryan Moats
Ryan Moats
Ryan Moats is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
from its practice squad.
St. Louis Rams
Walker was signed to the practice squad of the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
on November 4, 2008. He was released on November 12 when the team re-signed safety David Roach
David Roach (American football)
David Roach is an American football safety who is currently a member of the Detroit Lions. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Texas Christian....
.
Second stint with Texans
Walker was signed to the practice squad of the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 25, 2008 when the team placed Ahman Green
Ahman Green
Ahman Rashad Green is a retired American football running back. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
on the reserve/injured list.