Darius Walker

[johnnd05]

Didn't D-Walk hire Drew Rosenhaus as his agent?

 

[knute]

Darius Walker would not have improved his draft position if he had stayed for another year. He thrived in our offense last year, but our offense with limited skill/experience at QB and WR will be more of a ball control offense. Not nearly as many draws and screens, and we won't use the shotgun nearly as much as last year.

Rhema Mcknight not getting drafted is a real shocker to me. He had 15 TD's last year! I thought for sure that he was a 3rd-4th round guy, so I am still surprised that no team picked him up. Would have thought that the Browns might have thought about it given their limited talent at WR and with Brady Quinn, but I'm sure he'll have a contract soon.

Yeah, it's strange that our offense has been better than our defense, but more defensive players get drafted. Random thoughts about this:
1) our offensive coaching was better than our defensive coaching.
2) I noticed that a couple of defensive guys (like Landri) are expected to come in and contribute as special teams players and backups. My guess is that's typical of late-round picks. Defensive guys are going to be preferred on Special Teams because they already know how to tackle.
3) We really played pretty well considering how few NFL-quality players we had. Looking forward to seeing how our team can do now that we're staring to close the talent gap.

 

[Newc]

Didn't D-Walk hire Drew Rosenhaus as his agent?

Yea he did, and now that you mention that I wonder if that may have hurt him. Teams may have thought that he was good enough to draft in maybe the 5-7th rounds but not worth having to pay more than he's worth or having to deal with Drew.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Man - that's too bad. Darius deserved better than that.

Deserved better? Not based on talent. Based on can-do attitude, I agree. But let's face it, he is not cut out for the NFL as a 1st string back.

 

[Steve]

not many RB's in the late rounds are cut out to be 1st string backs. i think he should've been drafted.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

not many RB's in the late rounds are cut out to be 1st string backs. i think he should've been drafted.

Why should he be drafted? Seriously, the scouts looked him over. They looked over his game tape. He worked out for them. He fell short of the mark.

For years I have taken a ton of shit for saying the DW was not up to par with great or even excellent running backs. The NFL agrees.

It's not like he went in the 6th round and we thought he should go in the 3rd. He was UNDRAFTED.

Our lead RB was UNDRAFTED!!!

It's very telling...and people who think he got screwed should really take a step back and re-analyze the situation.

He got the reps. He got his time to work out for scouts. He had a great coach pushing for him. In the end, he got nothing. Why is that?

Let's face it, he would have probably be usurped in 2007 and would have ridden the pine. I think he will get his shot with someone...then he can try to remold himself.

 

[Junkhead]

I think he should have been a late round pick at least. Drafted or not, he is/was a great representative for the program, played hard, and was productive. We might miss his blocking and receiving next year. He actually may be able to beat out Garrett Wolfe for a spot on the Bears, who knows....good luck to DW.

 

[goldenlid]

ND has had good talent. I would say that it was not giving these guys a chance to just line up and play football. A little less thinking and a whole lot more attacking. We will see what kind of talent ND has since the new DC likes to attack more, hopefully we will say WOW they can play.

 

[goldendomer]

No one need a RB like walker...he isn't ever going to be a first string RB he can't break anyone with his speed and he's not strong enough to plow through the line....look back at his career he didn't do good against the good/better than average teams he played against
Walker=Scout Team Player....Should have finished his last year and broke the records

 

[NDgettysburg]

Who was the knucklehead that encouraged Walker to enter the draft? What a waste.

I dunno but I've watched Nevin's DVD a couple times now and I gotta say, he's gonna be hard to replace. I like Travis Thomas alot though...I hope he can do it.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

I dunno but I've watched Nevin's DVD a couple times now and I gotta say, he's gonna be hard to replace. I like Travis Thomas alot though...I hope he can do it.

Hard to replace? I don't think so... I don't believe that for a minute.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Hard to replace? I don't think so... I don't believe that for a minute.

I agree LMI. Weis & Co. have recruited a stable of studs to tote the mail. If these kids pan out like their scouting report, it will harken back to the glory days of Holtz when he & Vinny Cerrato were pulling in Bettis, Rocket, Watters, Culver, Becton, Zellars, Levens, the list goes on.

 

[Newc]

Yea, Darius won't be a hard guy to replace, thats not to say I didn't have a ton of respect for the guy. Stand up class act.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

I agree LMI. Weis & Co. have recruited a stable of studs to tote the mail. If these kids pan out like their scouting report, it will harken back to the glory days of Holtz when he & Vinny Cerrato were pulling in Bettis, Rocket, Watters, Culver, Becton, Zellars, Levens, the list goes on.

From a skills perspective I have confidence we will see better production at RB.

I only hope these guys bring the same positive attitude we all saw from DW.

 

[Junkhead]

We all know he didn't have breakaway speed. I think he played his best in big games though. 16-90 3tds against OSU. 22-128 against LSU (125 in the first half). 2 good games in BCS bowls. Anyway, we need to run next season, but I'm pretty sure the defenses will be stacked against the run, with an untested QB and all.

 

[SillyIrish]

From a skills perspective I have confidence we will see better production at RB.

I only hope these guys bring the same positive attitude we all saw from DW.

Exactly and his leadership will be missed.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Exactly and his leadership will be missed.

Hopefully not...I would hope we will see someone step up and take that role over. Travis Thomas comes to mind. He might well be the Captain of the offense next year. He's the man I would lay money on to be the Captain.

 

[irishfan]

While I agree that Walker would not benefit from staying another year, I still think he should have been drafted. I feel like he will be a great 3rd down running back for a team. He's very good at pass blocking already (much better than most other college running backs) and he has very good hands and rarely fumbles. It is unrealistic to think that he will just be a "scout team" running back. I agree that he will never be a starting running back, but he has the necessary skills to be a very successful 3rd down running back.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

It is unrealistic to think that he will just be a "scout team" running back. I agree that he will never be a starting running back, but he has the necessary skills to be a very successful 3rd down running back.

I don't think it's unrealistic at all. It's hard to make it in the NFL...some very good people go nowhere quick. Autry Denson comes to mind. And I don't see Autry being worse than Darius.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Darius was/is not a home run threat, no doubt about that. But he was very productive, rarely fumbled, did all the little things, and in this day and age when character seems to count more than ever, then Darius is a home run. Will he be a 1500 yard back in the NFL? I doubt it, but can he quickly catch on with a team and make an impact on 3rd down and receiving out of the backfield? I absolutely think so. That being said,I think it is very rare to see a guy with his numbers from a major university not get drafted. Even Todd Mcshay, who never has had a good word to say about ND and Brady Quinn in particular, said he was shocked Walker didnt get drafted.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

That being said,I think it is very rare to see a guy with his numbers from a major university not get drafted. Even Todd Mcshay, who never has had a good word to say about ND and Brady Quinn in particular, said he was shocked Walker didnt get drafted.

I don't think it's that rare actually. It happens all the time.

HOWEVER, it's more rare that a 3-year feature back does not get drafted (from a Major University).

What we have seen at ND is a bunch of guys who looked good or ok in the ND system, but frankly were not NFL caliber.

SINCE "The Bus":
Reggie Brooks (drafted second round)
Lee Becton (drafted or no?)
Randy Kinder did not get drafted
Autry Denson was picked in the 7th. (ND's all time rusher!!!)
Tony Fisher did not get drafted. (still playing though from Freee Agency)
Ryan Grant did not get drafted.
Julius Jones drafted in second round
Darius Walker did not get drafted.

Frankly speaking we have not had a truly high caliber Running Back in well over a decade.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Darius was/is not a home run threat, no doubt about that.

God, it's been so long since we had that... I close my eyes and dream of an ND Running Back actually scaring a secondary.

Julius Jones had the ability, but he was the right man with the wrong coach/team.

 

[SillyIrish]

Best 10 players that didn't get drafted, guess who is #1 and #2.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6760130?MSNHPHMA

 

[irishunclebill]

Darius's father "dumbfounded" that he did not get drafted, said Darius was very disappointed.

NFL DRAFT: Snub leaves Walker's dad 'dumbfounded'
By John Hollis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/01/07
The father of former Notre Dame running back Darius Walker called his son "very disappointed" that he wasn't selected in the NFL draft.

"Several teams throughout this whole ordeal said they were going to pick him," said Jimmy Walker, a former NFL defensive lineman. "To not get drafted at all, you can't explain it. You really can't explain it. Hopefully, he can go and prove all 32 teams wrong."

Link to complete story:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2007/05/01/gwxdraft0501.html

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Best 10 players that didn't get drafted, guess who is #1 and #2.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6760130?MSNHPHMA

I think that's fair in general. They were really on the bubble.

Rhema has had some drop-itis...but he's got talent. I heard he was runniing slow as well...but I suspect Rhema can work on his key issues and make some valuable contributions.

Honestly though, I think he has a better shot of playing on Sundays than DW.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Darius's father "dumbfounded" that he did not get drafted, said Darius was very disappointed.
...
Link to complete story:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2007/05/01/gwxdraft0501.html

I am not surprised his dad was dumbfounded...honestly DW is the apple of his dad's eye (and for damn good reason...he's a great kid)

 

[TexasDomer]

I think that's fair in general. They were really on the bubble.

Rhema has had some drop-itis...but he's got talent. I heard he was runniing slow as well...but I suspect Rhema can work on his key issues and make some valuable contributions.

Honestly though, I think he has a better shot of playing on Sundays than DW.

Rhema had arms like a raptor at times last year. I think he was afraid of contact after his knee injury, and never made it all the way back.

Walker will be a solid 3d down back, not much more. He c(sh)ould have used his senior year to build on his momentum from the Sugar Bowl, instead of going pro.

 

[notredomer23]

just a note about that list of running backs near the top of the page, ryan grant is some position on the giants.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

What the hell is up with Darius? Does he have any interest from other teams?

 

[notredomer23]

I know, such waisted talent. He couldnt be a starter, but come 3 4 years from now he could be a back up.