Derel Walker

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1991)}}

{{Infobox CFL player

| name = Derel Walker

| team =

| image = 2021, 87, Derek Walker.jpg

| image_upright = 0.90

| caption = Walker with the Edmonton Elks in 2021

| status =

| import = yes

| position1 = Wide receiver

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|06|29}}

| birth_place = Hillsboro, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| number =

| college = Texas A&M

| high_school = Hillsboro (TX)

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 187

| playing_years1 = {{NFL Year|2014}}

| playing_team1 = Tennessee Titans*

| playing_years2 = 2014

| playing_team2 = Omaha Mammoths

| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|2015}}–{{CFL Year|2016}}

| playing_team3 = Edmonton Eskimos

| playing_years4 = {{NFL Year|2017}}

| playing_team4 = Tampa Bay Buccaneers*

| playing_years5 = {{CFL Year|2017}}–{{CFL Year|2018}}

| playing_team5 = Edmonton Eskimos

| playing_years6 = {{CFL Year|2019}}

| playing_team6 = Toronto Argonauts

| playing_years7 = {{CFL Year|2021|2022}}

| playing_team7 = Edmonton Elks

| playing_years8 = {{CFL Year|2023}}

| playing_team8 = {{nowrap|Saskatchewan Roughriders}}

| playing_years9 = {{CFL Year|2023}}

| playing_team9 = Hamilton Tiger-Cats

| career_footnotes = *Off-season and/or practice roster only.

| career_highlights = * Grey Cup champion (2015)

CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award ({{CFL Year|2015}})

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 474

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 6,681

| statlabel3 = Receiving average

| statvalue3 = 14.1

| statlabel4 = Receiving Touchdowns

| statvalue4 = 34

| CFLAllStar = {{CFL Year|2015}}, {{CFL Year|2016}}

| CFLWestAllStar = {{CFL Year|2015}}, {{CFL Year|2016}}, {{CFL Year|2018}}

| CFLEastAllStar = {{CFL Year|2019}}

| CFL = derel-walker/161298/

| NFL = 2550509

}}

Derel Walker (born June 29, 1991) is an American professional football wide receiver. He was named a CFL All-Star in 2015 and 2016 and received the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 2015. He is a Grey Cup champion after winning the 103rd Grey Cup with the Edmonton Eskimos in his rookie year. He previously attended Texas A&M University where he played college football for the Aggies.

Early life and college

Walker played high school football as well as baseball and track and field at Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, Texas. He also participated in power-lifting. He was named an honorable mention to the 2008 Super Centex team and a member of the 2009 All-Centex team by the Waco Tribune-Herald.{{cite web|title=Derel Walker|url=http://12thman.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2610|website=Texas A&M University Athletics|access-date=August 22, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Conine|first1=Chad|title=TRIBUNE-HERALD SUPER CENTEX FOOTBALL TEAM 2008: A season to cherish for Midway|url=http://www.wacotrib.com/sports/high_schools/tribune-herald-super-centex-football-team-a-season-to-cherish/article_8deda4b8-e1fe-5f99-8d4b-a54c523ad05e.html|access-date=August 22, 2015|work=Waco Tribune-Herald|date=January 18, 2009}} From 2010 to 2011, he played junior college football at the local Trinity Valley Community College. During his two seasons at Trinity Valley, he made 44 catches for 864 yards and 10 touchdowns{{cite web|title=Derel Walker|url=http://www.esks.com/roster/show/id/7871|website=Edmonton Eskimos|access-date=August 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150902022243/http://www.esks.com/roster/show/id/7871|archive-date=September 2, 2015|url-status=dead}} while helping to lead his team to the second round of playoffs in 2011.

Walker committed to transfer to Texas A&M in early 2012 to play for the Aggies.{{cite news|last1=Dial|first1=Jenny|title=A&M: Aggies get playmakers, D-line help in talented 2012 recruiting class|url=http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2012/02/am-aggies-get-playmakers-d-line-help/#2499103=0&2810101=0|access-date=August 22, 2015|work=Houston Chronicle|date=February 1, 2012}} In a fall scrimmage, Walker caught two touchdown passes of 20 and 35 yards.{{cite news|last1=Cessna|first1=Robert|title=Texas A&M's QB race still wide open after open practice|work=McClatchy – Tribune Business News|publisher=Tribune Content Agency LLC|date=August 12, 2012}} He played a minor role in the regular season, playing in 12 games but catching only eight passes for 85 yards and no touchdowns. Walker was more active in his final year with the Aggies in 2013. He played large roles against Arkansas when he caught seven passes for 81 yards and against Vanderbilt when he caught his first two touchdown passes at Texas A&M.{{cite news|last1=Cessna|first1=Robert|title=Aggies' defense handle Razorbacks' 'kitchen-sink' offense, running backs take care of rest in 45–33 win|work=McClatchy – Tribune Business News|publisher=Tribune Content Agency LLC|date=September 29, 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Bowen|first1=Larry|title=Key matchup: Pair of wideouts put on show at Kyle Field|work=McClatchy – Tribune Business News|publisher=Tribune Content Agency LLC|date=October 27, 2013}} Walker was third on the team in catches with 45 receptions and second on the team with 705 receiving yards in the regular season.{{cite news|title=Five football recruits to enroll at Texas A&M in January|work=McClatchy – Tribune Business News|publisher=Tribune Content Agency LLC|date=December 20, 2013}} In the post-season, Walker made an impact at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, where he made six catches for 113 yards including a 44-yard touchdown.{{cite news|last1=Cessna|first1=Robert|title=The Eagle, Bryan, Texas, Robert Cessna column|work=McClatchy – Tribune Business News|publisher=Tribune Content Agency LLC|date=January 1, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Roberson|first1=Doug|title=Trailing by 21 points, Manziel rallies Texas A&M past Duke in second half in a Chick-fil-A Bowl thriller|work=McClatchy – Tribune News Service|publisher=Tribune Content Agency LLC|date=January 1, 2014}} He finished his career at Texas A&M with finishing with 59 receptions for 903 yards and five touchdowns.{{cite news|last1=Moddejonge|first1=Gerry|title=Eskimos augment camp roster with QBs, receivers among dozen additions|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/05/04/eskimos-augment-camp-roster-with-qbs-receivers-among-dozen-additions|access-date=August 22, 2015|work=Edmonton Sun|date=May 4, 2015}} Walker was the last receiver to catch a pass from quarterback Johnny Manziel before Manziel was drafted by the Cleveland Browns.

Professional career

=Tennessee Titans=

Walker was eligible for the 2014 NFL draft but went undrafted. He was later signed by the Tennessee Titans as a free agent.{{cite news|last1=Glennon|first1=John|title=Tennessee Titans test undrafted wide receivers|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2014/05/17/titans-test-undrafted-receivers/9234471/|access-date=August 22, 2015|work=Tennessean|date=May 17, 2014}} He was released at the end of the pre-season in 2014.{{cite news|last1=Wyatt|first1=Jim|title=Ken Whisenhunt on Titans' roster cuts: 'It's tough'|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/titansinsider/2014/08/25/titans-ken-whisenhunt-nfl/14582209/|access-date=August 22, 2015|work=Tennessean|date=August 25, 2014}}

=Edmonton Eskimos (first stint)=

Walker was signed as a free agent by the Edmonton Eskimos on April 29, 2015 after participating in an Eskimos mini-camp in Florida.{{cite news|last1=O'Leary|first1=Chris|title=Edmonton Eskimos sign seven players|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/Edmonton+Eskimos+sign+seven+players/11014610/story.html|access-date=August 23, 2015|work=Edmonton Journal|date=April 29, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722035906/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Edmonton%20Eskimos%20sign%20seven%20players/11014610/story.html|url-status=dead}} He was placed on the practice roster at the end of the pre-season, where he remained until he was activated in early August following a hip injury to Adarius Bowman. Walker made his CFL debut in a game against the Montreal Alouettes on August 13, where he recorded 10 catches for 125 yards as well as a tackle.{{cite news|last1=Moddejonge|first1=Gerry|title=Edmonton Eskimos: Walker fills in well for Adarius Bowman|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/08/14/edmonton-eskimos-walker-fills-in-well-for-adarius-bowman|access-date=August 23, 2015|work=Edmonton Sun|date=August 14, 2015}} The following week against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Walker caught 14 passes for 183 yards.{{cite news|title=Ticats put up 49 points in convincing win over Eskimos|url=http://cfl.ca/article/ticats-put-up-49-points-in-convincing-win-over-eskimos|access-date=August 23, 2015|work=CFL.ca|date=August 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822143544/http://www.cfl.ca/article/ticats-put-up-49-points-in-convincing-win-over-eskimos|archive-date=August 22, 2015|url-status=dead}} Walker would go on to finish the 2015 CFL season with 89 receptions and 1,110 yards and 6 touchdowns (in only 12 games played). In the Western Final, Derel Walker had 11 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown as the Eskimos advanced to the 103rd Grey Cup game over the Calgary Stampeders, their provincial rivals. During the Grey Cup festivities, Walker was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie.{{Cite web|title = Eskimos' Derel Walker wins CFL most outstanding rookie award|url = https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-eskimos/eskimos-derel-walker-wins-cfl-most-outstanding-rookie-award|website = Edmonton Journal|access-date = 2015-11-27}} Walker continued to perform well into the 2016 season, finishing second in the league in both receptions (109) and yards (1,589) trailing teammate Adarius Bowman in both instances. Shortly after the end of their season, the Eskimos released Walker to allow him to pursue an NFL career.{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/eskimos-release-walker-inks-with-bucs-1.644551|title=Eskimos release Walker; inks with Bucs - Article - TSN|date=2017-01-05|newspaper=TSN|access-date=2017-01-06}} Walker's CFL contract was originally scheduled to expire in February 2017.{{cite news|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-eskimos/derel-walker-bidding-farewell-to-edmonton-eskimos|title=Derel Walker bidding farewell to Edmonton Eskimos|date=2016-11-22|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-22}}

= Tampa Bay Buccaneers =

On January 5, 2017, Walker signed a reserve/future contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reuniting him with college teammate Mike Evans.{{cite web|title=Buccaneers Add CFL Star Derel Walker|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/buccaneers-add-cfl-star-derel-walker-18398833|website=Buccaneers.com|date=January 5, 2017|access-date=January 8, 2021}} He was released by the Buccaneers on September 2, 2017 after recording just one reception for 15 yards in the preseason.{{cite web|title=Wide Variety of Moves Gets Bucs to 53|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Wide-Variety-of-Moves-Gets-Bucs-to-53/229beb34-4568-4236-8cc8-4ad794feb408|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208151620/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Wide-Variety-of-Moves-Gets-Bucs-to-53/229beb34-4568-4236-8cc8-4ad794feb408|archive-date=2017-12-08}}

=Edmonton Eskimos (second stint)=

On September 6, 2017, it was announced that Walker had re-signed with the Eskimos.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2017/09/06/walker-rejoins-eskimos/|title=Derel Walker back in Green and Gold, inks deal with Esks|website=CFL.ca|date=September 6, 2017}} Walker only played in eight games for the Eskimos in 2017, but caught 48 passes for 634 yards with two touchdowns. On January 12, 2018, the Eskimos announced that they had signed Walker to a one-year contract extension through the 2018 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.esks.com/2018/01/12/eskimos-re-sign-derel-walker/|title=Eskimos Re-Sign Derel Walker - Edmonton Eskimos|date=2018-01-12|work=Edmonton Eskimos|access-date=2018-01-12|language=en-US}} Walker was fourth in the league in receiving yards (875) in early September 2018 when it was announced we would miss the next six to eight games with a knee injury.{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/09/06/derel-walker-miss-next-6-8-weeks-knee-injury/|title=Derel Walker to miss next 6-8 weeks with knee injury - CFL.ca|date=2018-09-06|work=CFL.ca|access-date=2018-09-06|language=en-US}} Walker missed the rest of the season, but was still named a divisional All-Star.

=Toronto Argonauts=

As a highly coveted free agent, Walker visited with Toronto Argonauts General Manager Jim Popp over several days, and eventually signed a one-year contract reportedly for $275,000 Canadian, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in the CFL.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/wr-walker-argonauts-strike-1-year-deal-1.1257756|title=All-Star WR Walker, Argos strike 1-year deal - TSN.ca|author=TSN ca Staff|date=February 14, 2019|website=TSN|access-date=February 17, 2019}} Walker's 2019 started off slowly, seeing few targets from starting quarterback and fellow former Edmonton player James Franklin, who resorted to check downs to Llevi Noel. However, once Franklin was injured and McLeod Bethel-Thompson was inserted for the majority of the year, Walker's playmaking abilities as a deep threat could be fully utilized. His two best games had 9 catches and two touchdowns each, and yardage totals of 188 and 203 yards. Walker finished the last few games of 2019 on the injured list, but had made 65 catches for 1,040 yards and 6 scores. He was the team leader in receiving yards by 1 yard (S.J. Green finished with 1,039), and was named the Argos nominee for Most Outstanding Player award.{{cite web| url = https://www.cfl.ca/2019/10/30/cfl-announces-2019-team-award-winners/| title = CFL announces 2019 team award winners - CFL.ca}} Both Walker and Green were named divisional All-Stars, the only Toronto players from the offense to be named to the list.{{cite web| url = https://www.cfl.ca/2019/11/06/2019-cfl-division-stars-announced/| title = 2019 CFL Division All-Stars Announced - CFL.ca}} Walker was not re-signed by the Argonauts following the 2019 season and became a free agent on February 11, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/derel-walker-still-unsigned-second-day-cfl-free-agency/|title=Derel Walker still unsigned on second day of CFL free agency - Sportsnet.ca|website=www.sportsnet.ca|access-date=2020-02-13}}

= Edmonton Elks (third stint) =

Walker did not sign with a team in 2020 as the 2020 CFL season was cancelled. On January 8, 2021, it was announced that he had re-signed with the Edmonton Football Team to a one-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.esks.com/2021/01/08/derel-walker-returns-ee-football-team/|title=Derel Walker returns to the EE Football Team|publisher=Edmonton Football Team|date=January 8, 2021}} He played in 11 regular season games where he had 44 catches for 531 yards and no touchdowns. Walker re-signed with the Elks on February 5, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.goelks.com/2022/02/05/transactions-elks-extend-walker/|title=Elks extend Walker|publisher=Edmonton Elks|date=February 5, 2022}} In 2022, he played in 16 regular season games and recorded 65 receptions for 874 yards and one touchdown. He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 14, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2023/ |title=Transactions – Football player trades and signings |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=February 15, 2023}}

=Saskatchewan Roughriders=

On March 2, 2023, it was announced that Walker had signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.{{cite web|url=https://www.riderville.com/2023/03/02/riders-add-standout-receiver-derel-walker/ |title=Riders add standout receiver Derel Walker |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |date=March 2, 2023}} He played in one game with the team where he had three receptions for 28 yards and one receiving touchdown before being moved to the injured list. He was later released on August 9, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2023/08/09/roughriders-release-american-wr-derel-walker/ |title=Roughriders release American WR Derel Walker |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=August 9, 2023}}

=Hamilton Tiger-Cats=

On September 27, 2023, it was announced that Walker had signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.{{cite web|url=https://ticats.ca/article/tiger-cats-sign-defensive-lineman-walker-receiver-walker |title=Tiger-Cats sign defensive lineman Davis II, receiver Walker |publisher=Hamilton Tiger-Cats |date=September 27, 2023}} He played in two games where he recorded three receptions for 14 yards. He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 13, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/fa24/ |title=Official 2024 Free Agent Tracker |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=May 22, 2024}}