Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Arden Walker trying to live up to dad's legacy
Arden Walker enjoyed a breakout season last year; he led all of Colorado defensive lineman in tackles. And judging by his performance this fall, he's building on last year's success with the Buffaloes.
"Arden is a dog, one of our leaders," head coach Deion Sanders said. "I'm trying to figure if he's a dog or a leader. D or L, he's earned that."
"I want to make sure I'm a leader or a dawg," Walker stated. "I feel like whatever is best for the team, I can do that."
Being a leader, dawg and Buff means a lot to the senior.
He grew up a Buff fan because his father Arthur played for CU in the late 80s.
"Did you grow up as a Buff fan?" CBS Colorado's Eric Christensen asked Arden.
"Always, for sure," Arden said.
"It must have been tough since CU wasn't very good when you were growing up," Christensen said.
"Yeah, but I always ran around the house with a Ryan Walters jersey on," Walker said. "I grew up wearing No. 15, and of course my dad told me all the old Buff stories."
But surprisingly, with Buff blood gushing through his veins, Walker chose to attend Missouri out of high school. After a couple of seasons, he transferred back home. It was a move that made papa proud.
"He played it cool but he definitely was excited. I could tell," Walker recalled. "Especially when we played Nebraska, I could tell. He was like a kid at Disneyland for sure."
But now Walker has a legacy to live up to. His dad started on the defensive line for the 1989 Buffs who went undefeated and played in the Orange Bowl.
"Have you seen the old videos of him and the H-Boys playing back in the late 80s?" Christensen asked Arden.
"I've seen videos, heard stories, I hear everything, every day," Walker said.
"Can you guys be as good as his line was?" Christensen asked.
"That's the goal, I want to be better, honestly," Walker exclaimed. "He pushes me and continues to give me wisdom to help me be a leader."
Arden's a legacy Buff who returned home to follow in his father's footsteps. It's a fairy tale story just waiting on an ending.
"It's been a process and I'm just enjoying the journey," Walker said. "I just want to develop into the player I want to be and I feel I have the opportunity to do that now so I want to make the best of it."
"You're talking about a good kid and a good human being, just a good person and a good man," Sanders said. "Works his butt off every day in practice. He's preparing to have a good year. He practices like 'I'm going to have a big year.'"
