Penn State tackle Rasheed Walker talks toughest foes, not leaving after 2020 season, more at NFL Combine
Former Penn State offensive tackle Rasheed Walker is ready to take the field Friday at the NFL Combine.
Walker is the only Nittany Lion set to perform today when drills begin at 4 p.m. ET. Draft analysts differ greatly on where the Maryland native could go in April’s NFL Draft. Thus, his work in Indianapolis could determine where he goes in the annual selection process.
“I feel like I do a good job of staying calm, and staying focused,” Walker said. “I feel like I’m a very chill present. So I just control the controllable, and everything is going to take care of itself. That’s how I’ve always been.”
After deciding to leave Penn State with eligibility still on the table, Walker went to train at EXOS in Pensacola, Fla. He said he plans to continue working out in Dallas after the Combine. Before leaving Indianapolis, he met with, at minimum, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and surely many others. As it relates to the first team on that list, an old teammate, current Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth, was able to offer some insight on what lies ahead.
“He said [playing for the Steelers] is nice, and like, I said, [he said] just take care of your body and just be prepared. As soon as you leave college, you’re a professional. That’s how you got to conduct yourself as a professional.”
Walker also touched on some other topics with reporters:
On his best memory of Micah Parsons
“Just watching Micah play basketball,” Walker said. “He’s a pretty good basketball player. Super athletic. I’ve seen him do 360 dunks.”
On not leaving Penn State early after the 2020 season
“I weighed my options,” Walker said. “I feel like I would have been pretty successful if I would have made that decision. But, I also felt like I still had unfinished business to take care of. I feel like I could go back to school, clean up some things that I saw on tape that I wanted to fix, and just put myself in a better position. I felt like I made the right decision by doing that.”
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On what a NFL team will get in Penn State former teammate Jesse Luketa
“They’re going to get a hard-working, loyal person,” Walker said. “He just is a great person. Jesse’s a great person. He’s probably the reason why I came to Penn State. He’s just a real good teammate.
“He made that transition from linebacker to defensive end, and he embraced it. That’s hard for a lot of guys. Me and him put in a lot of extra work this past season, just to help him in a good position. You’re going to get a great football player and solid guy if you draft Jesse Luketa.”
On the best player he’s faced
“Just watching Micah play basketball. He’s a pretty good basketball player. Super athletic. I’ve seen him do 360 dunk.” s is the best season and then going dry your be “I feel like our guy, [former Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie], we had a pretty big spring. We put in a lot of work. He’s very good, as you all know.
One final note: Asked the same question, Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson picked Walker as one of the toughest opponents he’s faced.
Quotes obtained by Patrick Engel of On3.
