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Mr. Rob Walker

Home:
1401 Pecan St.
Mamou, Louisiana 70554

Work:

Home Phone: --
Work Phone: --
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Email: walkerrob52@yahoo.com

Football: UL tailback ruled ineligible

Joshua Parrott ï¿½ jparrott@theadvertiser.com ï¿½ August 20, 2009

Robert Walker knows that he will eventually play football at UL. The former Mamou standout running back just has some work to do before that happens.

Walker told theadvertiser.com Wednesday night that his most recent ACT score was flagged three weeks ago by the NCAA and thrown out Tuesday, leaving him ineligible to play this season for the Raginï¿½ Cajuns.

While disappointed, Walker will try to attain a qualifying ACT score in the fall. By not qualifying Walkerï¿½s binding national letter of intent with the school is voided, but he plans to return to UL for the spring semester as a grayshirt. That means he could play four seasons over a five-year span starting in 2010.

The news was first reported Wednesday at theadvertiser.com.

ï¿½Itï¿½s hard knowing that Iï¿½m not going to play,ï¿½ said Walker, who took two summer classes at UL and competed in the first 1 1/2 weeks of fall practice. ï¿½But I know that all things happen for a reason. Iï¿½m just going to come back next year and try to make an impact.ï¿½

News of Walkerï¿½s ineligibility was first reported at 5:55 p.m. Wednesday at theadvertiser.com, citing multiple sources close to the program.

UL head coach Rickey Bustle said he could not comment on the situation after Wednesdayï¿½s practice.

About 40 minutes after theadvertiser.comï¿½s initial report, the university released the following statement to the local media:

ï¿½Mamou running back Robert Walker did not qualify academically and is not expected to enroll in classes for the Fall 2009 semester. Please refrain from inquiring about Walkerï¿½s status with any of the coaching staff or administration. Walker is now technically considered a recruitable athlete and NCAA rules prohibit public comment about prospects. Thank you for your understanding.ï¿½

The sticking point with Walker, who was expected to compete for playing time this fall at running back and on kick returns, was his ACT scores. After scoring a 15 on his first attempt ï¿½ two points short of a qualifying score ï¿½ he took an ACT prep course to improve his results. In January, Walker learned that he got a 22 on his second try.

Walker, who led all rushers in Saturdayï¿½s scrimmage with eight carries for 21 yards, hoped that the NCAA would allow the 22 to be upheld. But it got flagged three weeks ago because it was such a dramatic jump from his first score. It was finally thrown out Tuesday.

After attending Tuesday morningï¿½s workout, Walker learned that he was ineligible and did not practice that afternoon.

Now Walker will take another ACT prep course this fall with three testing dates on the horizon. His next test is Sept. 12.

According to Walker, he fell one point short on the NCAAï¿½s sliding scale that weighs grade-point average and scholastic test scores.

Walker wrapped up his prep career at Mamou last fall. As a senior, he earned Class 2A all-state honors for the second consecutive season after leading the area in rushing yards (2,021) and rushing touchdowns (27). He rushed for a combined 3,877 yards and 51 touchdowns in his final two seasons for the Green Demons.

Rivals.com rated Walker as the nationï¿½s 43rd-best all-purpose back and a three-star recruit out of a possible five. He signed with the Cajuns in February after considering offers from North Carolina and McNeese State.

He will spend this fall trying to prove that his most ACT score was anything but a fluke.

ï¿½I know I can pass the test,ï¿½ Walker said. ï¿½There was some pressure on me, but I know that itï¿½s not going to be a big deal. I know I can do it.ï¿½