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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. Yobes Walker
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Home Phone: -- Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 25, 2009 In part of the article “FLATTENED” the following information on Yobes was included: “Tailback Yobes Walker enjoyed a special night, rushing for a career-high 105 yards on 21 carries in his first college start in place of injured starter Undrea Sails.” * * * * * * * * * * Football: Walker’s path to starting spot an unusual journey Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 22, 2009 The path that led Yobes Walker to becoming UL’s starting tailback was loaded with twists and turns. Alabama and Texas A&M offered him scholarships as a senior at Class 5A Brazoswood High School in Texas. But the second team all-state selection waited too long to commit and was a last-minute addition for the Ragin’ Cajuns in July 2008. After redshirting last season, Walker saw redshirt freshman Draylon Booker beat him out in the preseason to be the No. 2 tailback behind starter Undrea Sails. Then the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder did not play in the season’s first two games. He was later moved to fullback before earning praise for his hard running against LSU and Nebraska. Walker got his most extensive playing time as a college player when Sails, the league’s fourth-leading rusher this season, suffered a fractured left leg in the second quarter of last week’s 30-22 win over Western Kentucky. In one half of play, Walker ran for 94 yards on 24 carries — both career-high totals — as the Cajuns rushed for a season-high 230 yards. He entered the game with 19 rushes for 69 yards on the season. Now Walker is set to make his first college start with UL (4-2, 2-0 Sun Belt) playing Florida Atlantic (1-4, 1-1) on Saturday in its annual homecoming game at Cajun Field. “I didn’t expect it to go down like this,” said Walker, who led the greater Houston area in rushing as a prep senior in 2007 with 2,174 yards and 17 touchdowns. “It’s unfortunate and a sad thing that Sails went down. I’ve just got to pick up where he left off.” Walker is second on the team with 163 rushing yards on 43 attempts. In Sun Belt play, he is ninth in the league in rushing at 54.5 yards per game. Looking back, Walker says the move to fullback motivated him to work harder and be more focused in practice, although the coaches say they made the move to get him in more one-back sets. He responded with some tough runs against LSU (three carries for 17 yards) and Nebraska (12 rushes for 37 yards). Walker appears to have the size and toughness to carry the load for a Cajun running game that needs a new leader. A youngster named Tyrell Fenroy took advantage of a similar opportunity after starter Chester Johnson got hurt against Texas in 2005 and left as the all-time leading rusher in school, state and league history. * * * * * * * * * UL signs star Houston RB Joshua Parrott � jparrott@theadvertiser.com � July 31, 2008 Even with scholarship offers to play football at Alabama and Texas A&M, Yobes Walker realized he needed more time to make an informed decision. Then both schools pulled their offers in January because they got tired of waiting. In the end, an old friend helped the standout running back from Brazoswood High outside of Houston get his chance to play NCAA Division I football. Walker confirmed with The Daily Advertiser on Wednesday that he will report to UL’s campus on Sunday for the start of preseason camp. “I feel really blessed,” said Walker, who also received interest from Georgia Tech and NCAA Division II power Abilene Christian. “I was really excited and relieved that I have somewhere to go now. I know (UL) is an up-and-coming program. “It’s somewhere I’ll get a great education and a great place to play football.” Walker capped his prep career with a stellar senior season in which he led the Houston area in rushing with 2,174 yards on 324 carries and 17 touchdowns for Class 5A Brazoswood. The 6-foot, 195-pounder topped 200 yards in six games – including a 298-yard performance against Clear Creek – and was a second team all-state selection. For his career, Walker rushed for 5,647 yards and 56 touchdowns, combining his power to run over defenders with the speed to run past them. He has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He is rated a two-star prospect and the nation’s 195th-best running back by scout.com. Walker’s skills are summed up best on his Web site at yobeswalker28.com: “Not only is Yobes a big-pounding back who specializes in gaining yards after contact, he’s also a speedster who can break it outside. He also has good hands and is versatile enough to catch the ball from out of the backfield.” Despite his big numbers on the field, Walker found himself still on the recruiting market after Alabama and Texas A&M pulled their offers early in the year. He put off making a decision during the NCAA’s signing period, which was Feb. 6 through April 1. “I had the test scores and was academically qualified, but I wasn’t ready to choose,” said Walker, who played at the same high school as current Cajun softball pitcher Brittany Cuevas. “I just didn’t get exposed or marketed like I was supposed to. But I felt that I was going to get something at the end.” Walker was still waiting for the right fit until incoming Cajun freshman Melvin White, who played at Brazosport High in Texas, recently told UL coaches about his friend. Cajun coaches traveled to Texas to meet with Walker and his family. After visiting UL’s campus, Walker decided he wanted to be a Cajun. “This kid is going to surprise some people,” said Walker’s father, Yogi. “He was just severely overlooked. He never missed a day of school and had a 3.4 grade-point average. He’s going to help (UL), and they’re going to help him. “Those schools that passed up on him are going to be very sorry.” Walker has been told he will compete for the back-up spot behind running back Tyrell Fenroy, who is second among active rushers with 3,271 career yards coming into his senior season. With UL’s depth chart at running back thin going into the fall, Walker is poised to take advantage of his opportunity. Junior Deon Wallace, who was third on the team last year with 434 rushing yards, might give up football after sitting out the spring to focus on academics. Redshirt freshman Julian Shankle continues to recover from surgery in the spring to repair a broken ankle. Incoming freshman Draylon Booker ran for 700 yards as a senior at Conroe High in Texas but missed time with injuries. Walker is excited about the chance to finally play college football as the Cajuns look to rebound from a 3-9 showing last season. He is considered a better college prospect than former UL recruit Louis Beal, a Detroit native who decided to play at New Mexico in 2008. “Yeah, it was worth the wait,” Walker said. “God placed me where I’m supposed to be.”
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