*Cole Walker Enters the DSFL

[SwagSloth]

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Prior to the DSFL Draft, we had the opportunity to speak with last-minute addition Cole Walker, a Defensive End who recently graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a Defensive Lineman, Walker fills a much needed role that was sure to catch the attention of many teams in both the DSFL and NSFL, though he ultimately ended up being drafted by the San Antonio Marshals.

When asked about his position, it quickly became clear that Walker is passionate about his role and the impact that Defensive Ends like himself have on the field. “Growing up, everyone always wanted to be on the offense”, he said, speaking about his inspiration for choosing the DE position. “They idolized the star Quarterbacks and the Wide Receivers with the magic hands. Those were the guys that you saw on posters when I visited my friends’ houses. I’ve always loved football, but I’ve also always appreciated the unsung heroes. The guys who worked hard and never got the proper credit. They work hard to make a difference, so that the guys on the posters can get their wins.” Walker is clearly someone that prides himself on being a team player and content to play the follow in the footsteps of those other “unsung heroes”. Of course, his time spent on the defensive line isn’t just about making others look good. Talking about possibilities for the upcoming season, he seemed to be chomping at the bit to take his place on the field. “It's always fun see that look of panic on the Quarterback’s face when I’m coming in for a tackle”, he added with a clear smirk. If he has his way, it’s a look that he’ll get to see often this season.

Walker’s presence in the draft went largely unnoticed at first due to his late entry. Coming from a smaller school without a national reputation in the sports world, many scouts simply didn’t have the time to get acquainted with him. Sources close to him told us prior to the interview that he had actually considered a number of other routes since he knew that gaining reputation in the NSFL would be difficult. Several smaller leagues had already approached him due to his success at Tulane and the university itself had actually equipped Walker for a career outside of the sports world. However, he was determined to play at the highest level possible and opted for the more difficult road, one that led him through the DSFL and will hopefully allow find him to find himself on an official NSFL roster.

For the scouts that did have a chance to interact with him, one trait that did catch their attention was Walker’s optimism. Even from our limited conversation with him, it was hard to deny that he approaches his work on the field with a positive attitude. “To me, you’ve got to enjoy what you do. I try to have fun out there. Yes, there will be days when it gets hard and we find ourselves struggling, but that’s when your teammates need you the most. You have to be able to support each other. If you can’t laugh and joke around with those guys when the going gets tough, you’re never going to be able to turn climb your way back to victory and turn things around.”

Defensive Ends are still a big need for the NSFL and pro scouts will undoubtedly be watching Walker and other players like him this season as they look at draft prospects. Walker ultimately ended up getting drafted in the Eighth round of the DSFL draft, becoming the fourth DE picked up by the San Antonio. Spokesmen for the Marshals have indicated that the team has plans to utilize all four men this season in a significant role and scouts will undoubtedly be watching the team closely as they attempt to fulfill future needs in their defensive lines. Asked about his long-term preferences, Walker just went back to his “unsung hero” comments from earlier and stayed focused on wanting to work together as a unit. “It’s all about the team mindset. Every member of the defense has to be on the same page. We all have a role to play and we have to trust each other to get it done. The offense can’t score and make big plays if we don’t do our jobs, so at the end of the day, we have to get our act together. Otherwise, the Offense is going to have an uphill battle all day and we simply can’t let that happen.”

An exciting season lies ahead for Walker and his teammates down in San Antonio. For now, whether or not we are looking at the next generation of great Defensive Ends remains to be seen, but we’re looking forward to see the Marshals’ defensive line in action.

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Note to Graders: Split 50% with @CaptainCup. We collaborated together on this article. I interviewed him earlier today and then used the transcript as the basis for the article.