CU Buffs: Walker makes Nickelback cool

The Colorado Buffaloes secondary is littered with talent going into the 2015 season. Not only are the players talented but they’re experienced. The Buffs are almost two deep with upperclassmen at each position in the secondary. These veterans that lead CU will be important this year especially with a new defensive system under defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt.

The Pac-12, known for it’s high powered offenses, will have the Buffaloes searching for answers in 2015, since the 2014 squad allowed the most yards per game in the Pac-12 south. One defense Jim Leavitt may roll out this year is a 2-4-5 which means the nickelback will be used often.

“I’ve been doing good so far, It’s coming along good,” Walker said of his position in Leavitt’s defense. “I’m playing a couple roles, I’m playing nickelback and cornerback. I played nickel last year, so I’m getting a lot of reps at cornerback just trying to get comfortable.”

It seems Walker won’t see time as an outside corner unless there is an injury, but his versatility can’t hurt. Last year when Tedric Thompson got hurt, Walker was counted on more than anticipated. The D.C. native lined up for 438 plays over the course of 12 games, 7 of which he started at nickelback. He talked about the time him and others got last year due to injuries.

“Last year we weren’t expecting, those certain circumstances and situations but I think the experience is helping a lot,” Walker told. “Now we know what to expect, we know what’s coming before it comes. We all have been making a lot of plays on the ball in practice. We’re just ready.”

Forcing turnovers is something the Buffs have been working on at fall camp. Considering CU only intercepted three passes last season, Coach Mike MacIntyre is keen on having his secondary make more of an impact.

“We need to be catching the ball better when it hits us in the secondary,” said the head coach. “I hope we’ll be able to knock more fumbles lose, put the quarterback back in the pocket a bit so a few balls might sail or tip. The obvious is we got to catch the football. I hope that three or four of those type of things happen more often.”

John Walker is one of the players in that secondary that wants to make his presence known in the turnover game.

“That’s what we need,” Walker said. “Guys like Justin Solis, and all the rest of the defensive lineman, once they get back there and put the pressure on the quarterback, we don’t have to man coverage as long. We’ll have time to make plays on the ball, so that’s going to help the team tremendously.”

Players like Ahkello Witherspoon, Ryan Moeller, and Jered Bell are all pushing for spots on the team, and they’re all legitimate. Each has a combination of experience and skill.

“It’s made me step my game up because I’m not trying to be on the bench,” the junior nickelback remarked. “So I’m just trying to take my game up to their level or even better. It definitely helps me because I can’t come to practice slacking, We all help each other, we just keep pushing each other to get better.”

Of the 2015 Buffs, walked stated simply, “we got a lot coming.”

The former Atlantic Region star seems poised to have a good year in his nickel spot, playing alongside other experienced players in the Buffs secondary.