Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 11 No. 1 | August 2018

football spotlight ricky walker F orayoungmanwhorarely likesattention, he certainly draws plenty of it . And for a young man who never expected to be a leader, he certainly accepts all that comes with it . Call him whatever you like—bell cow, leader, top dog, chief, general, the OG, etc.—Ricky Walker fits all of those. Make no mistake about this. Ricky Walker runs this 2018 Virginia Tech football team. “That’s what I came here to do at Virginia Tech—be a leader,” he said in an interview a couple of weeks before the start of August practices. “If that’s what I’ve got to do for us to win, then that’s what I’ve got to do. Being one of the most experienced guys on defense, I’m going to do my best to share the knowledge and lead and show them what it takes to win.” Walker earned his street cred over the past four seasons. He played as a true freshman because of injuries and depth issues, but took a redshirt season the following year when all of Virginia Tech’s depth returned—a somewhat unorthodox move in a football player’s development. The past three seasons, the 6-foot- 2, 300-pounder has been nothing but productive, including last season when he finished with 4.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown—strong numbers for a defensive tackle. He earned honorable mention All- ACC honors as a result. Last season marked Walker’s latest example of crushing all the perceptions of today’s football player. He comes from Hampton, Virginia, but he’s not a trouble maker. He wants to play in the NFL, but he had the foresight to graduate with his degree (sociology) in four years. He plays with an angry disposition, but contradicts that with a rather soft heart. He loves his teammates because he views them as brothers, all part of a journey toward a greater, yet unknown, destination. He knows no other way. Walker’s mother, Asia Garcia, taught him that, indoctrinating him on how to help others all his life. She taught middle school—for which she deserves the utmost of blessings—in Virginia Beach, making the drive across the Chesapeake Bay every day. A single mom, she raised her children, while also taking in others as a foster parent. The house always was filled with kids—and she viewed them all as hers. “I had probably 10 different guys in my house [at different times],” Walker said. “It was unique how my mom could take care of somebody else. I think that rubbed off on me and made me the person I am today, always wanting to help others, genuine, people-first kind of guy. “I learned a lot, just seeing what those guys go through. Not having their mom or dad every day and me being around my family every day makes me cherish it and be grateful for it. I’m glad my mom had that in my life because I think that played a major role in my life today.” Sure, Walker learned a lot about what unfortunate kids often go through during their lives. Those kids educated him, making him rather street-savvy to his surroundings. He also learned to be grateful for his life and appreciative of his parents. Though not in the same house, his dad lived just 10 minutes away and always stayed involved in his children’s lives. Perhaps more importantly, though, he learned how to treat people. Many people care about others, but few show it with their actions. Garcia’s example left that positive mark on Walker. “She’s a kids person,” he said. “She loves people and kids, and I think that’s what God blessed her with. She just loves taking care of others and families. Even today, she’s retired, but she’s taking care of older adults. That’s a huge step, and that’s different than regular foster care. Just to see how she does it is very, very cool.” That makes Walker the perfect leader for the Hokies, that rare combination of productive player, teacher and mentor. He actually coaches the defensive line room, not just Charley Wiles. If Jarrod Hewitt needs to play faster, he hears that from Walker. If Xavier Burke, who moved from tight end to tackle two years ago, needs pointers on technique, he gets them from Walker. If anyone makes poor decisions off the field, he hears about it fromWalker. And rest assured, that influence extends well beyond the position meeting room. “First of all, his work ethic is unmatched on the team,” Tech head coach Justin Fuente said. “Whether it’s in the offseason, in the weight room or at practice, he goes 100 percent every single day. So he sets a great example from that standpoint. “[From a football standpoint], he is assignment-sound and physically tough. He knows what he’s doing out there. He’s a heady, smart football player.” Fuente inherited Walker when he arrived in Blacksburg and remains extremely grateful to former head coach Frank Beamer, current defensive coordinator Bud Foster and Wiles. That trio spearheaded the recruitment of Walker, who committed to Tech in the fall of 2013. The staff staved off some big-time suitors, too, ultimately beating Penn State, South Carolina and Pittsburgh—Walker’s parents are originally from Pittsburgh—for the young man. As expected, for Walker, the decision came down to the people. Walker wanted what he had at his house in Hampton—a family, with a parental figure and a group of brothers. He received that at Virginia Tech, with Beamer and Foster and later Fuente, along with a group of teammates whom he considers family. “It was many reasons, but the main reason was it felt like home, somewhere other than Hampton, Virginia where they were going to take care of me and treat me like family,” Walker said. “It was in state, four hours away from my house, and of course, Bud Foster and Coach Wiles and Frank Beamer. Those guys were here, and the tradition… legends were here, and of course, the defense we play. “Those things led me over the top from other schools. Other schools didn’t really offer two Hall of Fame coaches [Beamer and Foster], great defense, and being in state and a family environment. Most schools didn’t have all four of those. They had one or two. I think I fit in at Virginia Tech, and I’m grateful. I’m glad I made the decision. I don’t O ther schools didn’t really offer two Hall of Fame coaches [Beamer and Foster], great defense, and being in state and a family environment. Most schools didn’t have all four of those. They had one or two. I think I fit in at Virginia Tech, and I’m grateful. I’m glad I made the decision. I don’t want to be anywhere else. Ricky Walker on his decision to come to Virginia Tech “ ” inside.hokiesports.com 15 Continued on page 16