Nowhere to Run

Tony Walker is as quiet as a college campus in July, walking around Biola University this week pondering his future.

Walker is preparing for the Shrine all-star football game tonight at Cal State Fullerton. His teammates on the California team are brash and boisterous as they go from the cafeteria to the practice field, from the dormitories to the swimming pool on the nearly deserted campus.

They know what they’ll be doing after the game, suiting up and trying to earn college starting jobs.

For Walker, a defensive back from Antelope Valley High, there is less certainty, and it shows. Soft-spoken by nature, he is even more reserved than normal, letting loose only during practice.

After being courted by Notre Dame, Tennessee and USC, Walker was accepted only at Utah State because of a learning disability that has his eligibility in jeopardy.

The NCAA clearinghouse has yet to rule on his transcripts, and Walker and Utah State coaches hold onto a slim hope that he can play this season. Most likely, however, he will concentrate on academics for a year to prove he can handle college work.

All of this runs through Walker’s mind as clearly as he ran for 1,238 yards and scored 19 touchdowns as a tailback last season, and he reaches a conclusion as inevitably as his breakaway runs reached the end zone: The Shrine game is probably his last football game of 1997.

“I think about that a lot,” he said. “And I want to make the most of this game before I buckle down and hit the books.”

Although Walker, 6 feet and 180 pounds, is playing cornerback for the first time, he has impressed coaches and quarterbacks with his instincts and athletic ability. During practice Wednesday, he intercepted three of Joe Borchard’s passes.

“He’s never played corner but he closes on the out pattern faster than anyone I’ve every played against,” said Borchard, the former Camarillo High standout who will attend Stanford.

Walker played safety at Antelope Valley, leading the team in tackles and interceptions each of the last two seasons. Despite his relatively slight build, he provides excellent run support because of his quickness and toughness.

Shrine coaches haven’t seen the tough-as-nails side of Walker yet because contact has been held to a minimum at practice.

“I’ll show them when the game begins,” Walker said softly, a smile creeping onto his face. “I like to make tackles.”

Another aspect of Walker’s game might not be showcased. At Antelope Valley, he scored 17 touchdowns on kick and punt returns, a fact the Shrine coaches said they didn’t know.

Not that anyone can argue with the quality of players set to return kicks and punts: Joey Getherall of Bishop Amat High, who was recruited by Notre Dame specifically as a kick returner, and Ken-Yon Rambo, an electrifying player from Long Beach Poly who will attend Ohio State.

But not giving Walker an opportunity to return a kick? He’s the best return man to play in the Valley area in many years.

“They don’t know what I can do,” Walker said, shrugging. “I’m focusing on my coverages. Going against the best receivers from Texas will be a big challenge.”

Randy Zimmer, the California team’s defensive back coach, has a healthy appreciation for Walker’s quick transition to cornerback.

“The first couple days he made a few minor mistakes, but he’s picked up everything well since then,” Zimmer said. “He’s aggressive and fast. I think corner will probably be his natural position in college.”

Regardless of when that college career might begin.

Walker came to terms with becoming a student first and athlete second at Antelope Valley, where he improved from being a freshman who read at a third-grade level to a senior who was held up as a model special education student.

“I know what I have to do in the classroom,” he said. “I plan to do anything it takes. I want to play football and I want to get my education, and I have the chance to do that.”