The Daily Nole

FSU Senior Moments: DeMarcus Walker

Mitch White/FSU athletics

With the exception of the Orange Bowl game still to be played, another season of Florida State football is in the books. While the Seminoles will also lose some juniors who leave early for the NFL Draft and other players who will transfer for other reasons, FSU will say goodbye to a special group of seniors.

After winning a national championship as freshmen, this senior class has FSU in position for a top 10 finish. This was also the first class in FSU history to go a combined 8-0 against Florida and Miami.

As the Orange Bowl nears and their careers wind down, we’ll look back on the most prominent moments in the careers of some notable Florida State seniors. After looking at the offense, we now shift over to the defensive side of the ball where we look at the Seminoles’ unquestioned leader of 2016.

A 6-3, 280-pound defensive end from Jacksonville, DeMarcus Walker transitioned from a player with two total sacks in his first two seasons to one of the premier pass-rushers in school-history. After a breakout year as a junior in 2015 in which Walker recorded 10.5 sacks, Walker has put forward an All-American caliber campaign in 2016 with 15 sacks — the third most in school-history — and four forced fumbles.

Walker had a knack for showing up in big games over his final two seasons as will be reflected in the countdown. Here are the top 5 moments in the FSU career of DeMarcus Walker:

5. Walker Terrorizes Miami
Oct. 10, 2015

After a slow start to his junior season, things started to pick up for DeMarcus Walker during Florida State’s rivalry game with Miami on Oct. 10. For the night, Walker finished with a then career-high two sacks, a forced fumble and two pass deflections. One came on the final drive as the Seminoles turned the Hurricanes over on downs in a 29-24 victory at Doak Campbell Stadium.

4. Walker Dominates Florida
Nov. 28, 2015

DeMarcus Walker has never been one to mince words when it comes to rival Florida, but in his career against the Gators, Walker’s play has spoken even louder. Against Florida to conclude the 2015 regular season, Walker had a night to remember. Walker finished the night with nine tackles, 3.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal late in the third quarter that preserved a shutout at the time. Florida would manage just a safety in a 27-2 FSU victory in Gainesville.

3. The Grand Finale
Nov. 26, 2016

In his final home game, DeMarcus Walker and the Seminoles played host to rival Florida. In what was a dominating night for the entire FSU defense, it was Walker who shone brightest. Playing in front of the Doak Campbell Stadium crowd for the final time, Walker recorded five tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries for an FSU defense that recorded six sacks, didn’t allow an offensive touchdown and held Florida to just 207 yards. The result was a 31-13 FSU victory — the fourth straight over rival Florida.

2. Walker Sets the Tone for Stellar Senior Season
Sept. 5, 2016

After a stellar junior season, it didn’t take long for many to realize that DeMarcus Walker would pick up right where he left off. In the 2016 opener in Orlando against Ole Miss, the Seminoles fell behind 28-6 in the first half. After a poor first half, the Seminoles’ defense would stiffen and Walker was the biggest reason why. Against the Rebels and a talented quarterback in Chad Kelly, Walker tallied 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble. The forced fumble gave FSU the ball at the Ole Miss 11-yard-line, leading to a Kermit Whitfield rushing touchdown that put FSU ahead for good in a 45-34 Labor Day victory.

1. The Block at the Rock
Oct. 8, 2016

Florida State had dug out of a 13-0 hole with 20 unanswered points against Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, but needed one stop to seal the victory. With about two minutes to play, Braxton Berrios had returned a punt 43 yards to the FSU 16-yard-line. After holding Miami to five yards on three plays, the Hurricanes cashed in on fourth down with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Brad Kaaya to Stacy Coley to make it 20-19 with 1:38 to play. As Michael Badgley stepped onto the field to attempt the extra point, overtime looked like a real possibility. DeMarcus Walker wouldn’t let that happen. Walker was able to get penetration and block the kick with his left hand. The Seminoles would proceed to run out the clock and preserve a seventh straight victory over Miami.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply