SportsLine wire reports
April 6, 1999

LINCOLN, Neb. -- It's hard for a football player to do the things necessary to reach success. If you ask Joe Walker, it is harder not to be able to do anything at all.

During the 1998 season, Joe Walker was making history by becoming only the sixth player in college football history to return a punt, a kickoff and an interception for touchdowns.

Walker was poised to make an impact in the Holiday Bowl against Arizona until he fell to the Memorial Stadium turf Dec. 12 during special teams practice.

The result was a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Walker, who was the team's top return man, was forced into a spectator's role for the bowl game.

"It was like a baby reaching for candy and they just can't get it," Walker said. "I just wanted to do something for my team so bad."

THE KNEE INJURY HAS ALSO KEPT WALKER OUT of spring practice this year. Instead of returning kicks and covering receivers, the junior can often be seen sitting in the stands watching his teammates practice.

For now, Walker can only watch and go through a strenuous rehabilitation period to restore the strength in his knee.

"It has made a little mental toll on me," Walker said. "But I understand my injury is something I have to fight through."

The inside of the training room is something Walker has grown accustomed to the last few months.

Right now, Walker said, he is working on going through the motions to get the foundation back in his knee. He won't be on the field for the spring, but Walker said he'll be ready when the two-a-day workouts come around this fall.

"I have to prove I still have the capabilities," Walker said. "I'm just trying to make it back to the field first."

WHEN WALKER DOES COME BACK, HE SAID, all he wants to do is get his hands on the ball.

Last season, he had no problem doing that. The Arlington, Texas, native intercepted three passes last year, including a 65-yard return for a touchdown against Iowa State.

And then there is Walker's work on special teams. Walker grabbed 25 punts for 283 yards, and returned 17 kickoffs for 366 yards.

When the rehabilitation is over and Walker returns to the field, he said he is ready to do anything - even play offense if he is asked to.

"As long as the ball is in my hands I feel I can do something with it," Walker said. "I can be a big factor."

Secondary Coach George Darlington said Walker can be characterized as a game breaker. Darlington said the evidence is in Walker's 73-yard punt return for a touchdown against Oklahoma State, the turnaround in the Cornhuskers' 24-17 win.

"He's a guy that can win games and turn the field for you," Darlington said. "He's one of the better return men in the country."

AND IN A CONFERENCE WITH TWO OF THE TOP RETURN specialists in the nation last season (Ben Kelly of Colorado and David Allen of Kansas State), those are lofty words for Walker.

Walker's teammates agree. Redshirt freshman Mike Demps, who is taking a lot of the returns this spring, said Walker brings a sense of excitement to the game.

"I admire the way Joe Walker plays," Demps said. "You can tell by the way he runs the ball that he's confident."

Walker said that confidence helps when he looks up and sees the ball come into his hands.

Whether it be a punt return or a kickoff, Walker said, the first thing he has to do is watch the ball come into his hands.

Then, it's off to the races.

"It is a different feeling every time," Walker said. "Most of the time it is just a mess of people in front of me.

"I just have to make it through the maze."