Darwin Walker
Encyclopedia
Darwin Jamar Walker is an American football
defensive tackle in National Football League
who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted
by the Arizona Cardinals
in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Tennessee
.
Walker has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles
, Buffalo Bills
and Chicago Bears
.
in South Carolina
and was a letterman in football
and track and field. He also set the State Record in the Shot-Put, throwing over 63 feet, which has been subsequently broken by 1 inch. Further, he graduated 4th in his 4A High School class. Darwin is the epitome of Student-Athlete.
for one year then transferred to the University of Tennessee
, where he won a National Championship with the Tennessee Vols
in 1998 and graduated Magna Cum Laude in Civil Engineering in 2000.
by the Arizona Cardinals
in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft
, but was released before playing a game.
during the 2000 season, where he played through the 2006 season.
pick) to the Buffalo Bills
for linebacker
Takeo Spikes
and quarterback
Kelly Holcomb
. However, there was a proviso to that trade stating that if Walker did not report to Bills training camp by August 5, 2007, he would be returned to the Eagles in exchange for a sixth round draft pick in 2008. He reportedly held out for a contract extension and never reported to Buffalo's training camp that year.
in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in 2008 (the Bears were in need of a defensive tackle after having waived
troubled defensive lineman Tank Johnson
in the 2007 offseason).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive tackle in National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
.
Walker has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Walker went to Walterboro High SchoolColleton County High School
Colleton County High School is a public high school in Walterboro, South Carolina formerly name Walterboro High School.-Athletics:CCHS offers students the opportunity to participate in wrestling, football, basketball, baseball, softball, golf, track, soccer, and tennis.-Band of Blue:The Colleton...
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and was a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and track and field. He also set the State Record in the Shot-Put, throwing over 63 feet, which has been subsequently broken by 1 inch. Further, he graduated 4th in his 4A High School class. Darwin is the epitome of Student-Athlete.
College career
Walker then attended North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
for one year then transferred to the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, where he won a National Championship with the Tennessee Vols
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
in 1998 and graduated Magna Cum Laude in Civil Engineering in 2000.
Arizona Cardinals
Walker was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
, but was released before playing a game.
Philadelphia Eagles
Subsequently he was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
during the 2000 season, where he played through the 2006 season.
Buffalo Bills
He was then traded on March 26, 2007 (along with a conditional 2008 draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
pick) to the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Takeo Spikes
Takeo Spikes
Takeo Gerard Spikes is an American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals 13th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft...
and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Kelly Holcomb
Kelly Holcomb
Bryan Kelly Holcomb is a former American football quarterback of the National Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 1995...
. However, there was a proviso to that trade stating that if Walker did not report to Bills training camp by August 5, 2007, he would be returned to the Eagles in exchange for a sixth round draft pick in 2008. He reportedly held out for a contract extension and never reported to Buffalo's training camp that year.
Chicago Bears
On July 29, 2007, the Buffalo Bills traded Walker's rights to the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in 2008 (the Bears were in need of a defensive tackle after having waived
Waiver
A waiver is the voluntary relinquishment or surrender of some known right or privilege.While a waiver is often in writing, sometimes a person's actions can act as a waiver. An example of a written waiver is a disclaimer, which becomes a waiver when accepted...
troubled defensive lineman Tank Johnson
Tank Johnson
Terry "Tank" Johnson is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
in the 2007 offseason).
Career statistics
| Year | Games | Tackles | Solo Tackles | Deflects | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Interceptions | Int Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 16 | 33 | 28 | 2 | 7.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 16 | 42 | 37 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 8 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 13 | 25 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 16 | 36 | 27 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 | 11 | 17 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 108 | 197 | 154 | 14 | 28.5 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 |