Jackie Walker

Jackie Eugene Walker (April 14, 1950 – December 5, 2002) was an American football linebacker who played for the University of Tennessee from 1969 to 1971. A two-time All-American, he was the first black captain of a Southeastern Conference squad. Walker shares the NCAA record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown, with five. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 1972 NFL draft, but was cut before the season.

In the years following his death, Walker's supporters campaigned to have him inducted into local and national halls of fame, arguing he has been denied such recognition because he was gay.

Early life Walker was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, one of five children of Norman and Violet (Wilson) Walker. He grew up in what is now the Parkridge neighborhood of East Knoxville. His older brother, Marshall, was among the first African-American students to attend a desegregated Fulton High School, where he was a standout in football, and was awarded a scholarship to Florida A&M.

College career Walker had planned to follow his brother to Florida A&M, but was offered a scholarship to Tennessee. He and Andy Bennett became only the school's second and third black football players (the first, Lester McClain, had joined the team in 1967). Walker played briefly for the freshman team in 1968 (freshmen were ineligible to play for the varsity squad prior to the 1970s) before suffering an injury.

Prior to his sophomore season in 1969, Tennessee head coach Doug Dickey hired Walker's high school coach, Lon Herzbrun, to coach linebackers. After naming Walker a starter, Herzbrun, realizing the gamble he was taking, told skeptics that if the move failed, "you can have my job." In Tennessee's 31–26 win over Kentucky, Walker intercepted a pass from Kentucky quarterback Steven Tingle and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown. He was named a Sophomore All-American by The Football News at the end of the season.

During the 1970 season, Tennessee head coach Bill Battle (who had taken over after Dickey resigned to coach at Florida) entrusted Walker with signal-calling duties, which required reading the opposing offensive formation, and calling the play for the defense. In Tennessee's 24–0 win over Alabama, Walker intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and registered two tackles-for-loss in helping his team inflict a rare shutout on a Bear Bryant-coached team. In Tennessee's narrow 20–18 win over South Carolina in November, Walker registered 10 tackles, including one in which he stopped a Gamecock running back short of the goal line, intercepted two passes, and recovered a fumble. He finished the season with a team-leading 132 tackles (84 solo), including nine tackles-for-loss and two sacks, to go along with five interceptions. Walker was named an All-American by The Football News and the National Editorial Association. He was named "Southeast Defensive Player of the Week" by UPI. In Tennessee's 20–13 win over Florida the following week, Walker intercepted a pass, and forced a missed field goal and a missed extra point.

In Tennessee's game against Alabama in October 1971, Coach Bear Bryant was so concerned with Walker that he tasked three offensive linemen, among them John Hannah, one of the best linemen to ever play the game, with neutralizing the Tennessee linebacker. Walker's teammate Jamie Rotella later recalled that the scheme was effective, though Walker fought vehemently through every block. "We didn't really care about concussions then," Rotella said, "but he probably had one and continued playing." Alabama continued using the blocking scheme, which became known as "The Jackie Walker Play," against subsequent opponents.

In Tennessee's 10–7 win over Mississippi State the following week, Walker intercepted a pass from Bulldog quarterback Hal Chealander and returned it 43 yards for what would prove the game-winning touchdown. He returned his NCAA-record fifth career interception for a touchdown in Tennessee's regular season finale against Penn State, helping the Vols upset the previously unbeaten and heavily favored Nittany Lions, 31–11. He finished the season with 126 tackles (74 solo), including three tackles-for-loss, to go along with four interceptions, and was again named an All-American at the end of the season. At just 6'0", 200 pounds,

During Walker's final days, his brother Marshall had told him he was going to get him the recognition he deserved. His efforts went largely unnoticed, however, which Marshall suspected was due to Walker's sexual orientation. In 2014, Walker was one of 75 players on the ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, but was not among the 14 players selected.