As a young boy, Anthony Walker and his dad watched “Boyz n the Hood,” the riveting drama that takes place in South Central Los Angeles.
Ricky Baker, on the cusp of earning a football scholarship to USC, falls victim to gang violence, a senseless shooting ending his athletic dreams.
Walker wore that No. 42 cardinal-and-gold jersey Saturday as he nervously waited to get selected in the NFL draft. The Colts tabbed him in the middle of the fifth round, with general manager Chris Ballard telling him: “We want you to come in and make an impact.”
Walker did that at Northwestern, a second-team all-Big Ten linebacker as selected by coaches. Teammate Ifeadi Odenigbo went to Minnesota with the second pick of the seventh round. Austin Carr, who led the Big Ten in receptions (90), yards (1,247) and touchdown catches (12) last season, did not get drafted but signed a free agent deal with the Patriots. Apparently scouts were put off by his 4.61 40-time.
Walker has the physical tools to have a substantial NFL career, and as NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said: “He loves football. (The NFL) has been a goal and dream of his, something we talked about in recruiting.”
Walker thinks he attracted the Colts as much for his mind as his 6-1, 238-pound body. A front-office member told him at the NFL Combine that his interview with the Colts was one of the best they’ve ever had. Walker impressed team personnel by explaining why certain plays worked and why others broke down.
“My dad has groomed me since I was 2 years old to understand the game,” Walker told the Tribune on Saturday. “Playing a lot of different positions –quarterback, receiver, DB, linebacker – helped get that football IQ down. And we ran one of the more complicated defenses in college football with different zone coverages and man pressures. We held Pitt to 24 points (in the Pinstripe Bowl). We had some tricks up our sleeve.”
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