North Carolina State University Athletics
Young Cornerbacks Are Being Tested
9/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Tony Haynes
In case he didn't know before, James Walker now understands what the term 'baptism by fire' means. The heat has indeed been intense in the true freshman's first two games as one of NC State's starting cornerbacks.
A wide receiver during spring drills, Walker was moved to defense at the beginning of preseason practice. And make no mistake about it: the Wolfpack's first two opponents, Arkansas State and Indiana, were well aware of Walker's limited experience at the cornerback position. Both clubs went after him early and often-and with some success.
And moments after Indiana's Versie Gaddis got behind Walker to grab a 70-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter of the Pack's game against the Hoosiers on Sept. 9, NC State coach Chuck Amato decided to pull Walker in favor of redshirt freshman J.J. Washington.
"We're not finished with James Walker," Amato said. "That position is really tough. When you learn to walk, you learn to walk forward. When you learn to play defensive back, you're doing something very unnatural, and that's walking backwards as fast as you can."
Walker gave up two long pass completions against Arkansas State on balls that were severely underthrown. On those two plays, he appeared to have pretty good coverage. At Indiana, however, Walker was burned for two long pass plays in the opening half, including the touchdown bomb to Gaddis.
"Everybody thinks he's the one they completed the passes on, but a lot of times there should have been some help," Amato said. "Those balls were thrown so high that somebody could have been there to help him. But ultimately it was him because he's the closest one to them. That's part of growing up. Remember, he's a true freshman; he's only been playing defensive back since two-a-days started. We're not going to give up on him or anybody else."
Amato intimated that Washington might start ahead of Walker when NC State hosts SMU on Saturday, but the move isn't necessarily etched in stone.
"J.J. came in and did a real good job. J.J.'s a fighter," Amato said.
On the other side, junior Brian Williams seems to be making a smooth transition from free safety to corner. Williams, who led the Pack in tackles as a safety last season, has already made two huge game-saving plays. Against Arkansas State, his tackle for a nine-yard loss on fourth down prevented the Indians from scoring what would have been a clinching touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
In game two, Williams' break-up of a third down pass attempt by Indiana forced a Hoosiers punt and allowed the Wolfpack to get the ball back for its game-winning drive. Williams also blocked a punt that led to an NC State field goal in the first quarter of the game at Indiana.
