SE: Walker Ready to Leave Lasting Legacy at K-State
Aug 07, 2019 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
A memory popped into Reggie Walker's mind while answering questions at Big 12 Media Days a few weeks ago in Arlington, Texas.
Walker, a senior defensive end for K-State, was on his recruiting visit in this memory. His brother, Robert, who played at Mississippi State, was with him, too. They were walking around the program's indoor facility, staring in awe at the huge bowl game banners lining the walls.
"'Man, I want to be on one of those banners one day,'" Walker recalled thinking.
Walker wanted to leave more than a big picture of himself. He wanted to leave a legacy.
"That would be everything," the Ponchatoula, Louisiana native said.
This season is his last opportunity to do so. Walker's well aware of it, too.
"It's starting to sink in," he said, "but every moment you just try to live it like it's your last."
Last December, however, Walker thought he might have played his last game at K-State. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in sociology/criminology on December 8 and, while waiting for a new coach to be hired, he was contemplating testing the NFL waters.
"It was really a big debate," he said.
Two days after graduating, Chris Klieman became K-State's coach. After some research on his new coach — a Google search session and connecting with an North Dakota State player via Facetime — Walker said he knew what was right for him. The debate ended quickly.
"(The NDSU player) was, like, 'You guys got a real one. Coach Klieman is going to be there for you guys through thick and thin. You guys are going to really like him,'" Walker said. "For a player to say that about a head coach, we really loved that. Player to player, they're going to be honest. It gave me good hope."
Hope to live out his last season a few ways.
Etch his name in K-State's record book, to start.
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Wildcat enters his final season with 16 sacks, two short of the program's top 10 and 10 away from the top three. His 30.0 tackles for loss are nine away of cracking the top 10, while his eight forced fumbles are tied for third all-time and one away from tying Darren Howard and Grady Newton for first.
"I'm really trying to get those records," he said. "A lot of people have been telling me about those records, how close I am to being in the K-State record books, so that's one of my goals and what I set my mind on."
A lot of people told Walker about these records after he was announced as a Preseason All-Big 12 selection, when the information was publicized.
"That's when it kind of set in. I was, like, 'I'm this close to being in the history books, and I want to leave my legacy,'" he said. "As a kid I had big dreams. I wanted to come to a program and lead, take off and do the best I could do."
Walker said he also hopes to make sure his best becomes his teammates' best, too. He wants to do more than lead on the field on Saturdays. Like Jordan Willis did for him, he wants to set the example for others.
"For me, being in that role that he was in, I really like that. You can ask some of the younger guys, I always try to text them, 'What are you doing? Let's go hang out,' just trying to get to know as many people as I can," he said. "For them to come to me and ask me questions, it really warms my heart to know guys depend on me and count on me."
The 2016 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Walker said fans can count on the Preseason All-Big 12 honor only adding to his motivation for this season, which starts against Nicholls on August 31 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"Where I'm from, I have a chip on my shoulder," he said. "It's really just a blessing. I feel like I'm always out to prove people, and now that they gave me (respect), it grows even bigger because now I'm not finished. I have to get that. That's just preseason. That doesn't mean anything right now, until the end of the year and it says my name."
A memory popped into Reggie Walker's mind while answering questions at Big 12 Media Days a few weeks ago in Arlington, Texas.
Walker, a senior defensive end for K-State, was on his recruiting visit in this memory. His brother, Robert, who played at Mississippi State, was with him, too. They were walking around the program's indoor facility, staring in awe at the huge bowl game banners lining the walls.
"'Man, I want to be on one of those banners one day,'" Walker recalled thinking.
Walker wanted to leave more than a big picture of himself. He wanted to leave a legacy.
"That would be everything," the Ponchatoula, Louisiana native said.
This season is his last opportunity to do so. Walker's well aware of it, too.
"It's starting to sink in," he said, "but every moment you just try to live it like it's your last."
Last December, however, Walker thought he might have played his last game at K-State. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in sociology/criminology on December 8 and, while waiting for a new coach to be hired, he was contemplating testing the NFL waters.
"It was really a big debate," he said.
Two days after graduating, Chris Klieman became K-State's coach. After some research on his new coach — a Google search session and connecting with an North Dakota State player via Facetime — Walker said he knew what was right for him. The debate ended quickly.
"(The NDSU player) was, like, 'You guys got a real one. Coach Klieman is going to be there for you guys through thick and thin. You guys are going to really like him,'" Walker said. "For a player to say that about a head coach, we really loved that. Player to player, they're going to be honest. It gave me good hope."
Hope to live out his last season a few ways.
Etch his name in K-State's record book, to start.
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Wildcat enters his final season with 16 sacks, two short of the program's top 10 and 10 away from the top three. His 30.0 tackles for loss are nine away of cracking the top 10, while his eight forced fumbles are tied for third all-time and one away from tying Darren Howard and Grady Newton for first.
"I'm really trying to get those records," he said. "A lot of people have been telling me about those records, how close I am to being in the K-State record books, so that's one of my goals and what I set my mind on."
A lot of people told Walker about these records after he was announced as a Preseason All-Big 12 selection, when the information was publicized.
"That's when it kind of set in. I was, like, 'I'm this close to being in the history books, and I want to leave my legacy,'" he said. "As a kid I had big dreams. I wanted to come to a program and lead, take off and do the best I could do."
Walker said he also hopes to make sure his best becomes his teammates' best, too. He wants to do more than lead on the field on Saturdays. Like Jordan Willis did for him, he wants to set the example for others.
"For me, being in that role that he was in, I really like that. You can ask some of the younger guys, I always try to text them, 'What are you doing? Let's go hang out,' just trying to get to know as many people as I can," he said. "For them to come to me and ask me questions, it really warms my heart to know guys depend on me and count on me."
The 2016 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Walker said fans can count on the Preseason All-Big 12 honor only adding to his motivation for this season, which starts against Nicholls on August 31 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"Where I'm from, I have a chip on my shoulder," he said. "It's really just a blessing. I feel like I'm always out to prove people, and now that they gave me (respect), it grows even bigger because now I'm not finished. I have to get that. That's just preseason. That doesn't mean anything right now, until the end of the year and it says my name."
Players Mentioned
DE
/ FootballK-State FB | Welcome back Collin Klein
Monday, December 08
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Radio Interview
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Official Introductory Event
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Thank You Coach Klieman
Wednesday, December 03
