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FB/LB, 6'3, 250, 4.6, 350 BP
Prattville, AL
Birthday: 9-29-80
High School: Prattville
HS Mascot: Lions
HS Coach: Tommy Lucas
HS Position: FB/LB
HS Number: 37
Official Visits: Alabama
Host During Alabama Visit: Tyler Watts
Committed: 7-18-98
Roommate To Be: Jarrett Johnson
Academic Status: Qualified
Stats
HS Junior Season
Rushing
- 86 carries
- 486 yards
- 5.7 yards per carry
- 7 TDs
Tackles
HS Senior Season
Receptions
Rushing
- 120 carries
- 850 yards
- 7.1 yards per carry
- 5 TDs
Honors
- Two-time All-County
- All-State
- BHP Ten Most Wanted
- Two-time All-Metro
- Tuscaloosa News Sweet 16
- Pigskin Preps Super South 75
- AL MS HS All Star Game
SBR Scouting Report
Good size. Utilized as a runner, blocker, and receiver. Has the height and ability to exit the huddle as a fullback, H-back, or tight end. May grow into a defensive end at some point in his career. Projects as a fullback or defensive end.
[Observation: live.]
Stories
Tide's First Commitment
Most of his life, Jeremy Walker dreamed of playing for Alabama. But he never really thought it would happen until one day last spring.
"I was in the school cafeteria eating lunch when a friend told me that he saw Coach Rouzie in the office looking at my transcripts," Walker says. "I was totally surprised."
Walker finished eating and rushed over to the office.
"Sure enough, he was there," Walker says. "We spoke for a few seconds, but that was it. He said he'd be calling me sometime."
Rouzie called that night.
"I was a little surprised that he called so soon," Walker says. "He offered me a scholarship to play for the University of Alabama. That was most definitely unexpected."
Walker mulled over the offer for two months
Walker |
"It's something that I always wanted," he says. "But I wanted to take some time to think about it."
Finally, on July 18th Walker was sure. He was the first player in this year's class to commit to Alabama. By committing early, he gave up the opportunity to take recruiting visits to schools like Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee.
"Once they offered me, I though about it and decided there was no use in looking at other schools," Walker says. "If you've got something that you want, why look at something else?"
Like Father, Like Son
Back in the late 70s at Prattville High School, Mike DuBose coached a fullback/linebacker named Billy Walker. Now, twenty years later, DuBose will be coaching Walker's son.
"My dad's told me a lot of old war stories about Coach DuBose," Jeremy says. "He says that he's a very intense and tough coach. I know that I'd be ready when I get to Alabama."
The Walker's will become the first father and son to play for DuBose.
"It's a bit ironic that we played the same positions at the same high school and that I'll play for Coach DuBose," Walker says. "My dad and I are glad that it turned out this way. I guess we couldn't ask for much more."
Mr. Versatile
Ronnie Cottrell likes versatile players, and that's one reason why he recruited Jeremy Walker. The 6'3, 250-pound Walker a can play fullback, tight end, linebacker or defensive end.
Walker may start out at linebacker.
"Coach DuBose has discussed that possibility with me," Walker says. "I think that eventually I'll end up on offense, but it depends on the needs of the team. If it will help the team for me to play linebacker, then that's what I'll do."
In high school, Walker starred at fullback and linebacker. As a junior he racked up 70 tackles and five sacks. Last season as a fullback he rushed 120 times for 850 yards and five TDs.
The Incredible Hulk
The Hulk? |
Jeremy Walker is a dead-ringer for Lou Ferrigno, the world-famous bodybuilder/actor who was The Incredible Hulk.
"I've heard that quite a bit and I'm not sure how to take it," Walker says with a laugh. "I know that he was quite the man back in the 70s."
And Walker wants to be quite the man next August.
"I want to report in at a lean and ripped 250 pounds," Walker says. "I'm on a program that will help me get there."
Walker is lifting weights four days a week. He focuses on each body part two times a week. The program will also help him improve his speed.
"Right now I can run a 4.6," Walker says. "When I get in the shape, I should be running a legitimate 4.5."
Walker's program concentrates on three power movements: the bench press, squats and power cleans. The following is part of Walker's workout.
Bench Press
3 sets x 8 reps of 285 lbs.
Squat
4 sets x 10 reps of 450 lbs.
Power Cleans
3 sets x 6 reps of 245 lbs.
From Goat to Hero
It was the third game of his sophomore season against Bessemer Jess Lanier. Jeremy Walker was making his first career start at inside linebacker.
"The guy who usually started had a sprained ankle so I got to start," recalls Walker.
It wasn't a good beginning.
"After the first series our linebacker coach pulled me out of the game," he says. "I was getting my tail kicked all over the field."
Walker didn't play again until the second half of the following week's game against Opelika. This time he was the hero.
"We scored with about a minute left and were trying to kick the extra point to tie it up," he says. "I was blocking and heard our holder yell 'fire.' That meant it was a bad snap."
Walker released his block and drifted into the end zone.
"He rolled out and threw it to me for a two-point conversion. Everyone started celebrating," Walker says. "It happened so quick I didn't really think about what happened until later."
What happened? Prattville won, 22-21.
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