FOOTBALL: Walker makes smooth transition

Feeling right at home
Arcadia QB Walker looking for big season

By Scott Galetti, Staff Writer

ARCADIA - When Kevan Walker burst upon the scene as a member of the Arcadia High School football team, he did so as an unknown transfer wide receiver from Virginia.
Walker now enters the 2007 season feeling right at home - both as a member of the Apaches' family and at his new position of quarterback.
Walker found his way to Arcadia in 2006 after his father, DeWayne Walker, took over as defensive coordinator at UCLA after serving in the same capacity with the Washington Redskins.
With the Apaches, Walker, who played two seasons at Stone Bridge High School in Virginia, became an instant contributor as one of the area's top wide receivers and as a defensive back.
All with the "new guy" label plastered to his forehead.
"It was pretty tough just trying to get used to a whole different school, new teammates, and people in general," Walker said. "Coming to Arcadia, everybody's really nice and they all welcomed me with open arms."
Added Apaches coach Jon Dimalante: "I think he feels more at home now."
Walker will continue to lead the Arcadia secondary, but his leadership was diverted during the offseason from receiver to his new position at quarterback.
It's a move Dimalante highly endorsed.
"It gets the ball into one of our best athlete's hands on every play, so I think that's an advantage," Dimalante said. "If he didn't have the ability to throw, then it wouldn't be a good change. But he throws the ball real well, so I think it's going to help us.
"As a quarterback, he's the general of our offense and it's going to challenge him more physically because he's going to be knocked to the ground more."
Getting hit is nothing new to Walker. In fact, he's used to the contact.
"I think (taking hits as a receiver) helped me a lot because I'm not going to be new to big hits or getting hit from the blind side," Walker said.
As a receiver, Walker showed explosive speed and the Apaches are banking on that speed to provide an extra element at quarterback.
"Anytime you have a mobile quarterback, it just gives the offense an advantage," Arcadia assistant coach Ryan Press said. "When the defense has everyone covered, there's still that threat that he can tuck that ball and get out of binds that you didn't expect to get out of."
Added Arcadia center Lars Guillermo: "I think we're bringing a lot of speed back to what we didn't have last year. He was really athletic on the outside, but I think he'll give us a lot of good work at quarterback this year."
According to Press, Walker's knowledge of football has helped in the transformation from his natural position to signal caller.
"For anybody playing quarterback for the first time, it usually takes a while to pick up reads and get used to the position, and I think he's really excelled at that in spring ball and over the summer," Press said. "He's feeling comfortable both in the pocket and running the ball a little bit. It seems like he's picked up a lot of things really quickly."
DeWayne Walker is regarded as one of the top defensive minds in college football, especially after the Bruins' upset win over USC last season. He also has had a big impact in his son's development as a football player.
"If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't even be playing," Walker said. "Just being around him my whole life and seeing how he coaches people and watching guys like (the Redskins') Santana Moss and Clinton Portis, I just fell in love with the game and the preparation of the game."
But even with a defensive-minded coach as a father, Walker needed some time to adjust to defensive back with the Apaches a year ago.
"He struggled a little bit technically with the scheme a lot, but this year he understands the system a little bit better and he's just a ball hawk," Apaches defensive backs/wide receivers coach Andrew Policky said.
After leading the Apaches in receiving yards as a junior, Walker verbally committed to attend the University of Minnesota.
His father's success and proximity apparently had something to do with Walker's change of heart. He rescinded his commitment in July to make a commitment to attend UCLA.
"Minnesota is a really great program and (Gophers wide receivers coach) George McDonald is a great coach, but I think the main factor was staying around California and playing in front of my family," Walker said.
While many eyes will be on Walker when the Apaches host St. Francis on Friday, the spotlight also will be on what might be the most intriguing matchup of the evening with Walker facing a member of his family, Golden Knights wide receiver/defensive back Dietrich Riley.
"Me and Dietrich have a pretty funny past because he's like my half brother," Walker said. "I work out with him and we joke around like, `You're not going to get any passes or anything,' so I think it's going to be a fun game."