Jan. 18, 2007
by Ira Green
Mature, reliable and talented. Every college team in the country searches high and low to find a player with these traits to represent their program. Orlando native Mike Walker is that player for UCF. After sustaining a serious knee injury last season, the Golden Knights' wide receiver has shown he can still shine and battle back through it all.
"He comes to work everyday," said UCF offensive coordinator Tim Salem. "He is obviously trying to overcome a knee injury and spend the rehab portion on that. When he steps on the football field, he is helping younger guys by setting an example of how to get it done."
Entering UCF's final game of the 2005 season, Walker was the Golden Knights' second leading receiver with 64 receptions, 855 yards and nine touchdowns. It was against Rice on Nov. 15 that Walker suffered a serious knee injury while running due to the AstroTurf, which has since been replaced, at Rice Stadium.
The most disappointing moment in Walker's career was not the knee injury, but the result of it. Walker had to sit out of the two biggest games in UCF football history: the Conference USA Championship and the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.
"It was tough," said the senior. "It seemed like once everything started going good, that is when everything started happening. We were breaking history throughout the season and for us to go from worst to first, all of our fans coming home, the Citrus Bowl is filling up, 51,000 in the stadium and I was not able to play. I was on the sideline and it was tough. One day I am walking and the next day I am on crutches. I could not go out there and play with teammates, but it was a humbling experience."
The Edgewater High School graduate has battled back from his injury and appears to have picked up where he left off. Currently, Walker is leading the team in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and has played in every game.
During the summer workouts, Walker was named to the Preseason Biletnikoff Watch List, an award which is presented to the nation's most outstanding wide receiver. He also was selected in mid-October to play in the Las Vegas All-American Classic, which will be held on Jan. 15 and televised on the NFL Network. Walker will be only one of six players from the conference to participate in this event.
"It's great," said Walker. "When I used to watch college football when I was young and see the people up for the Biletnikoff award, they were big time receivers and had big names. I never guessed I would be on that list and for me to grow up and be able to come on that list, it is unreal. It happened so fast and all the success I have had so far. It is very big for me."
A modest athlete though, Walker feels he has a responsibility to his teammates. As a veteran, he understands that he serves as an example at all times for his younger comrades. Walker welcomes and embraces the responsibility that has been placed upon him.
"I think I have a big role on this team when it comes to leadership," said Walker. "The whole team, especially the offense, looks for me to keep things going. If something is going wrong, they look for me to answer. I am trying my hardest."
The most mature aspect about Walker, though, is that he is never seen being brash towards referees or being penalized for excessive celebration. Walker knows there is a job to be done and that is what he is here to do. He also knows it is because of his teammates performing their job, it makes it possible for him to complete the play.
"I do not think there is use for the celebration," he said. "I make the play and it is fun while it lasts, but there is no reason to make a fool out of yourself and throw the ball into the stands. It is not mature. If it were not for the 10 other guys out on the field doing their job, I would not have been able to make of the big plays."
Under the direction of coach George O'Leary, Walker's second head coach at UCF, much of the program has changed since he first arrived. Walker feels that the changing of the guard has brought a new mindset to the team to continually work and improve.
"With O'Leary, he always has you doing something," said Walker. "When you are not doing something, he makes you want to do something on your own time, like watch film or workout; basically trying to get better all the time. I think that is what he instilled in our head. We always have room to improve and that is what we are always trying to do."
Walker is not known as the receiver his teammates or fans will find taking off a play when it is not designed for him to be the go-to guy. Ready to give his team options at all times, fans know that when Walker is on the field, they have someone they can rely on.
As UCF moved into the 2006 season, there were high expectations for the Golden Knights, but even higher expectations placed on the shoulders of Walker to prove he could handle the load as a senior with the loss of former UCF standout receiver Brandon Marshall.
Walker and Marshall were at the top of their game in the 2005 season. The duo led the conference in total receptions, receptions per game, total receiving yards and receiving yards per game. Marshall was taken in the fourth round as the 119th pick of the National Football League Draft by the Denver Broncos.
"Having the two of us really put the opponents' defense in a bind. They could not double both of us or roll coverage on both of us," said Walker. "They had two big time receivers to worry about. It was a lot easier for us because [Steven] Moffett could throw the ball, and it did not have to be on the money, but near a spot. When I am having a bad game, Marshall would pick me up. I had that other shoulder to lean on and it was a lot of help."
Another big help for Walker has been quarterback Steven Moffett. Moffett and Walker have been able to find the rhythm they need to succeed, and have taken advantage of it against every defense. However, it is Moffett who feels fortunate to have a player of Walker's caliber on his team.
"It is always good to have someone like that," said Moffett. "He is the most experienced guy we have. He's smart and savvy. He has a feel for the game. When everything breaks down and you don't know who to go to, he is going to be in the right place at the right time. You can see it this year, he is catching a lot of balls and he is always in the right place. He is making the plays when they are there."
Being at the right place at the right time has allowed Walker to climb the UCF annals at a record pace during his four years as a Golden Knight. Entering the UAB contest, Walker is fourth all-time at UCF with 177 career receptions and sixth with 2,428 receiving yards.
Salem has been impressed with Walker and feels he is a key player on the team, aside from the stats.
"Mike Walker is a competitor and a football player," said Salem. "Anytime you get a guy who likes to compete and can play the sport of football, you have something special and that is what we have in Mike."
Walker describes himself in a different, but simple way.
"Confident," said Walker.