John Walker

Wyoming

Sep 20 (Sat)

8:15 p.m.

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
5-9
Weight:
180
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Washington, D.C.
High School:
H.D. Woodson

AT COLORADO: This Season (Jr.) - He ended spring practices listed second at both right cornerback and the nickel positions. The coaches selected him as the recipient of the Hale Irwin Award, presented to the most improved defensive back during spring practices.

2014 (Soph.) - He appeared in all 12 games, including seven starts, in playing 438 snaps from scrimmage, the most by any part-time starter on defense. He was mainly in at the nickel position (where he made all seven of his starts) in recording 28 tackles (19 solo, one for a loss); he also had two tackles for zero gains, three third down stops, a forced fumble, one quarterback pressure, a touchdown save and five passes broken up. He had a career/season-high five tackles (four solo) against Hawai’i, and had four tackles three other times (Colorado State, Arizona State, Washington). He had 12 special teams points on the season, coming via five tackles (four solo, three inside-the-20), with one downed punt, a forced fair catch, a first downfield credit that altered a return and a touchdown save.

2013 (Fr.-RS) - He played in 10 games, starting one (at nickel back at Arizona State), but missed the last two games after suffering a hip contusion in practice (on November 19). He was in for 85 snaps from scrimmage (46 in his one start), and was credited with seven tackles (three solo). He had two tackles (one unassisted) against Arizona State, with one stop in five other games. On special teams, he earned 15 points in CU’s elaborate scoring system, tying for the fourth-most on the team; he was in on seven tackles (four solo, one inside-the-20), along with five knockdown blocks and two forced fair catches. He had a tremendous spring, recording 22 tackles (21 solo, one for a loss) and five third downs stops in the four main spring scrimmages.

2012 (Fr.) - Redshirted; practiced the entire fall in the secondary. He suffered a severe cut to his hand and in particular his flexor tendon on the third day of practice that ticketed him for a redshirt year.

HIGH SCHOOL - As a senior, was ranked the No. 51 cornerback in the country by ESPN.com, which also ranked him as the No. 6 player from the District of Columbia and No. 118 overall player in the Atlantic Region. SuperPrep ranked him as the No. 7 player from Washington D.C., and No. 48 player in the Mid-Atlantic Region (the eighth defensive back). He was named All-Met (Metro Area Washington, D.C.) by the Washington Post and the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. He had 84 tackles (57 solo) with four quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions while averaging over three pass break-ups per game; all three of his forced fumbles were picked up by fellow CU signee De’Jon Wilson. He was stellar on special teams as the gunner on punt return and also played on kickoff return. He blocked three kicks on the season, two punts and a field goal. H.D. Woodson was his third high school in four years, as he attended Archbishop Carroll High School his sophomore and junior seasons, playing quarterback as a sophomore and cornerback as a junior (48 tackles, 29 solo). He attended Frost Friendship Collegiate his freshman year but did not play any sports. Under coach Greg Fuller, Woodson was 6-5 his senior season; under Rick Houchens, Carroll was 6-4 his junior year and 2-8 his sophomore season.

ACADEMICS - He is major in Sociology at Colorado. He was on the Honor Roll throughout high school, attaining a perfect 4.0 grade point in his final three quarters, and was Woodson’s salutatorian.

PERSONAL - He was born July 23, 1994 in Washington D.C. His hobbies include riding dirt bikes, playing basketball, swimming and snow skiing. He is active in the D.C. community, including helping at his church in the past on Thanksgiving delivering turkeys and with a food drive. He won a sportsmanship award through the Boys & Girls Club. An older sister, Sydney Leonard, played basketball at St. Thomas.