A former Cross High School standout in multiple sports and the classroom has added to his resume as the college football season approaches.
Wofford senior fullback Nate Walker has been named to the preseason second-team offense in the Southern Conference. He is one of four Terriers to receive a preseason nod by the conference.
Cross football coach Shaun Wright is not surprised to hear Walker is still making noise.
“His offseason habits are as good as his on-season habits,” Wright said. “You remember the leadership skills he had while at Cross and now the younger guys up there look up to him. He’s the old guy now.”
Walker turned 21 in March and has put on around 30 pounds of good weight since graduating from CHS. Wofford lists him at six feet tall, 232 pounds and he averages six yards per carry.
“That’s a grown man coming at you,” Wright said.
Last fall, Walker started all five games for the Terriers and bulled his way into the end zone three times on 45 carries for 219 yards. He earned second team FCS All-America honors by Phil Steele and Stats Perform.
The 2018 CHS graduate has been an impact player for the Terriers since stepping on campus. As a freshman, he played in all 13 games and rushed 77 times for 547 yards and three touchdowns. He added 467 yards and five touchdowns on 81 carries as a sophomore before last season’s COVID-19-shortened campaign.
Cross fans will get an opportunity to see Walker play in the Lowcountry on Nov. 13 when the Terriers travel across the state from Spartanburg to Charleston to finish SoCon play at The Citadel.
Walker has three career touchdowns against the Bulldogs, including two in 2019.
While football was Walker’s best sport at Cross, he also played basketball and ran track for the Trojans. As a senior, Walker handled a leg for the Cross 4 x 100 relay team that finished second in Class A.
He started three seasons on the gridiron for Coach Wright.
Walker powered the Trojans on both sides of the ball as a senior, finishing with over 1,400 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns offensively and 94 tackles on defense from a linebacker spot. He snagged all-state and all-Berkeley County honors and became the first CHS player to make the South Carolina Shrine Bowl roster since Rod Wilson in 1999.
As a junior, Walker topped 1,200 yards on the ground and made 80 tackles, igniting the recruiting process along the way. He primarily played tight end and linebacker as a sophomore, making 74 stops to earn all-region honors.
“Every one of our kids know him,” Wright said. “When he comes back home, he works out in the weight room and talks to our kids. He’s not one of those who might shy away from that. He’s been a great example for the players in our program. They were all on JV or middle school when he played here. I still get players and coaches from other teams who want to know what he’s doing.”
For now, that’s reeling in another athletic honor.
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July 29, 2021 at 04:28AM
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Cross product adds to football resume | Sports | postandcourier.com - Berkeley Independent
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