SE: Former K-State LB, Seven-Year NFL Veteran Reggie Walker Uses Second Wind Program to Finish Degree
May 18, 2018 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Every time Reggie Walker — the linebacker who played football at K-State from 2005-08, not the defensive end currently on the team — visited Manhattan during his downtime in the NFL, head coach Bill Snyder started their conversation with three words.
"Just finish it."
Snyder was referring to Walker's bachelor's degree. The message, reinforced by Walker's parents who both served in the military, sunk in. Last Saturday, Walker returned to Manhattan in cap and gown to walk across the stage in Bramlage Coliseum as the first college graduate in his family.
"It was amazing," Walker said of the graduation day experience. "I had really considered not going back and walking. I didn't really think it was that big of a deal, but actually going through the whole process and then going through that ceremony, it really made it hit and made me realize, 'I put a lot of work into this. This is a big thing.' I was so glad that I went back and walked."
Walker is even happier he listened to Snyder and his parents' advice. While he played only one season under K-State's Hall of Fame head coach, Walker appreciates the passion Snyder maintained for his education.
"Even though I was only under Coach for one year, he's still been there. It really does mean a lot, just knowing that you have somebody that's in your corner, that really is here to help you succeed in life and wants to see you succeed," Walker said. "The older you get, you realize the people who really, actually, genuinely want to see you succeed are few and far between. So having somebody like that shows how exceptional of a person he is."
At one point, Walker, a graduate in social science, never intended on completing his degree. School, then, was a necessity to do what he wanted with his life, which was to play football.
When Walker started going back after his degree in 2015, shortly after being cut by the Denver Broncos in training camp, he said he realized something.
"I do need this," he said of his degree, which he needed 28 credit hours to finish when he started again. "I was just a different guy back then."
Back then Walker was a standout linebacker for the Wildcats. He tallied 163 tackles, 15.5 for loss while defending six passes and forcing three fumbles, helping open the door to a seven-year NFL career spent between two years with the Arizona Cardinals and five with the San Diego Chargers.
Now, Walker wishes he had entered the NFL with a degree in hand. His advice to current Wildcats who may be in the same mindset he was while at K-State would be twofold.
"My biggest thing would be to really know why you're playing football in the first place because football really is just a tool to help get you to where you really want to be. School, it's a great tool as well. If you play your cards right in that area, you could sit there and put yourself in the same position you want to be without breaking your back to do it," he said. "Just make sure that you finish while you're there because going back and finishing is twice as hard. But know what you want to do because that will help you deal with the daily grind of going to school because at least you know why you're doing it."
The process was frustrating at times, Walker said, especially while trying to raise two daughters with his wife, Chelsea, in Denver. However, he said he is extremely thankful for K-State's Second Wind program, which let him to finish his degree at his own pace through all online courses. He is the latest of a large group of former K-State student-athletes to take advantage of the program since its inception in the early 1990s.
"That was humongous," he said. "I would like to thank all of those people who still support that program."
Life likely won't slow down any time soon for Walker, either.
In the coming months, he plans to release a book he wrote during the last few years that he hopes can serve "as a manual for people who are going into college athletics." He also developed a mentorship program for a similar purpose and hopes to launch it soon.
Ultimately, he wants to return to school again for his master's degree in counseling, another step toward his dream of guiding those who are in a place in life he knows well.
"I figure if I go back, get my counseling credentials, then I could really go out there and provide my services to a lot of people who need it," he said. "Going through the process, you just really see so many people fail for so many different reasons and I kind of want to provide myself and my knowledge to help people get through the process successful during it and afterwards."
To top it off, he and his family are moving to Kansas City soon to be closer to friends and family. Being closer to Manhattan is an added bonus.
"I love that place," the K-State alum said. "It's one of my favorite places on Earth."
Every time Reggie Walker — the linebacker who played football at K-State from 2005-08, not the defensive end currently on the team — visited Manhattan during his downtime in the NFL, head coach Bill Snyder started their conversation with three words.
"Just finish it."
Snyder was referring to Walker's bachelor's degree. The message, reinforced by Walker's parents who both served in the military, sunk in. Last Saturday, Walker returned to Manhattan in cap and gown to walk across the stage in Bramlage Coliseum as the first college graduate in his family.
"It was amazing," Walker said of the graduation day experience. "I had really considered not going back and walking. I didn't really think it was that big of a deal, but actually going through the whole process and then going through that ceremony, it really made it hit and made me realize, 'I put a lot of work into this. This is a big thing.' I was so glad that I went back and walked."
Walker is even happier he listened to Snyder and his parents' advice. While he played only one season under K-State's Hall of Fame head coach, Walker appreciates the passion Snyder maintained for his education.
"Even though I was only under Coach for one year, he's still been there. It really does mean a lot, just knowing that you have somebody that's in your corner, that really is here to help you succeed in life and wants to see you succeed," Walker said. "The older you get, you realize the people who really, actually, genuinely want to see you succeed are few and far between. So having somebody like that shows how exceptional of a person he is."
At one point, Walker, a graduate in social science, never intended on completing his degree. School, then, was a necessity to do what he wanted with his life, which was to play football.
When Walker started going back after his degree in 2015, shortly after being cut by the Denver Broncos in training camp, he said he realized something.
"I do need this," he said of his degree, which he needed 28 credit hours to finish when he started again. "I was just a different guy back then."
Back then Walker was a standout linebacker for the Wildcats. He tallied 163 tackles, 15.5 for loss while defending six passes and forcing three fumbles, helping open the door to a seven-year NFL career spent between two years with the Arizona Cardinals and five with the San Diego Chargers.
Now, Walker wishes he had entered the NFL with a degree in hand. His advice to current Wildcats who may be in the same mindset he was while at K-State would be twofold.
"My biggest thing would be to really know why you're playing football in the first place because football really is just a tool to help get you to where you really want to be. School, it's a great tool as well. If you play your cards right in that area, you could sit there and put yourself in the same position you want to be without breaking your back to do it," he said. "Just make sure that you finish while you're there because going back and finishing is twice as hard. But know what you want to do because that will help you deal with the daily grind of going to school because at least you know why you're doing it."
The process was frustrating at times, Walker said, especially while trying to raise two daughters with his wife, Chelsea, in Denver. However, he said he is extremely thankful for K-State's Second Wind program, which let him to finish his degree at his own pace through all online courses. He is the latest of a large group of former K-State student-athletes to take advantage of the program since its inception in the early 1990s.
"That was humongous," he said. "I would like to thank all of those people who still support that program."
Life likely won't slow down any time soon for Walker, either.
In the coming months, he plans to release a book he wrote during the last few years that he hopes can serve "as a manual for people who are going into college athletics." He also developed a mentorship program for a similar purpose and hopes to launch it soon.
Ultimately, he wants to return to school again for his master's degree in counseling, another step toward his dream of guiding those who are in a place in life he knows well.
"I figure if I go back, get my counseling credentials, then I could really go out there and provide my services to a lot of people who need it," he said. "Going through the process, you just really see so many people fail for so many different reasons and I kind of want to provide myself and my knowledge to help people get through the process successful during it and afterwards."
To top it off, he and his family are moving to Kansas City soon to be closer to friends and family. Being closer to Manhattan is an added bonus.
"I love that place," the K-State alum said. "It's one of my favorite places on Earth."
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