JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida State senior defensive end DeMarcus Walker was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.
Walker, who attended Sandalwood high school in Jacksonville, contemplated entering the NFL Draft following his junior season. Instead the 6’4” 280-pounder returned for his senior season with a goal of reaching 15 sacks. Walker completed that feat with two sacks in the Seminoles regular season finale against the Florida Gators this past Saturday.
Walker ended the regular season as Florida State’s leader in tackles (64), sacks (15), tackles for loss (17.5), fumbles forced (3) and fumble recoveries (2). His 15 sacks are tied with Boston College’s Harold Landry for the national lead and are third-most in a season in FSU history, while the 27.5 in his career are also third in school history.
If Walker finishes the season leading FSU in tackles, it will be the first time in 20 seasons that a defensive lineman leads the Seminoles in tackles (Reinard Wilson, 1996).
This is the latest accolade for Walker who was named first team All-ACC on Monday.
Walker garnered 23 of the 48 votes cast by the ACSMA, beating Pitt’s Ejuan Price (9) and Ben Boulware (5). Walker is the seventh Seminole to win the honor, joining Derrick Brooks (1993), Derrick Alexander (1994), Peter Boulware (1996), Andre Wadsworth (1997), Darnell Dockett (2003), and Bjoern Werner (2012).