- Signed with Tennessee as a free agent in 2001
- Ranks Second All-Time at NU with 1,159 Career KO Return Yards
- Ranks Eighth All-Time with 653 Career Punt Return Yards
- Owns NU Career Record for Most Kickoff Returns with 53
- Tied NU Record for Most Career Interception Returns for TDs with Three
- Tied NCAA Record With a Kickoff, Punt and Interception Return for a TD in One Season in 1998
- 1997 Set NU Record for Most KO Returns/Yards in a Game (7-185 vs. Missouri)
- 1998 Second-Team All-Big 12 Kick Returner (Coaches, AP)
A dangerous return man and two-year starter in the Husker secondary, Joe Walker owns the school record for most kickoff returns with 53 and ranks second all-time at Nebraska with 1,159 kickoff return yards, finishing 284 yards behind school record holder Tyrone Hughes (1,443 from 1989-1992). He tied the NU record for most career interception returns for TDs with three (one in 1997, 1998, and 2000), and tied an NCAA record for scoring on a kickoff, punt and interception return in the same season (1998). Walker also ranks eighth all-time at NU with 653 punt return yards, giving him 1,972 return yards and five return TDs. Walker posted 132 career tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 12 career pass breakups and seven interceptions. Playing in 45 games, missing just three, Walker had 18 career starts, including 10 in 2000. As a senior, he recorded a career-high 44 tackles and broke up nine passes.
.
Tackles
.
.
Fum.
.
.
.
QB
Int.
Year
G/S
UT
AT
TT
TFL
Sacks
C-R
BK
PBU
PI
Hry.
Csd.
1997
12/1
15
12
27
3-19
2-18
0-0
0
1
2
0
0
1998
12/7
22
28
50
5-10
0-0
1-0
0
1
3
0
0
1999
10/0
8
3
11
4-27
2-26
2-1
0
1
0
3
0
2000
11/10
24
20
44
2-2
0-0
1-1
0
9
2
4
0
Totals 45/18 69 63 132 14-58 4-44 4-2 0 12 7 7 0
Punt Returns
Kickoff Returns
Int. Returns
Year
G/S
No.
Net
TDs
YPR
No.
Net
TDs
No.
Net
TDs
1997
12/1
7
39
0
5.6
15
389
0
2
71
1
1998
12/7
25
283
1
11.3
17
366
1
3
65
1
1999
10/0
30
216
0
7.2
8
146
0
0
0
0
2000
11/10
16
115
0
7.2
13
258
0
2
24
1
Totals
45/18
78
653
1
8.4
53
1,159
1
7
160
3
1998 Orange Bowl vs. Tennessee: Tackles, 2 UT, 0 AT, 2 TT
1998 Holiday Bowl vs. Arizona: DNP-Injured
2000 Fiesta Bowl vs. Tennessee: Tackles, 1 UT, 1 AT, 2 TT, 1 PBU, 1 Int. (-9 yards)
2000 Alamo Bowl vs. Northwestern: Tackles, 3 UT, 2 AT, 5 TT, 1-6 TFL, 2 PBU; Punt Returns 4-15; Kickoff Returns 1-33; Interceptions 1-6
Tackles - 9 vs. Colorado, 2000
Solo Tackles - 4; vs. Washington, 1998; vs. Kansas State, Colorado, 2000
TFL - 2-17 vs. Iowa State, 1999
Sacks - 2-17 vs. Iowa State, 1999
Passes Broken Up - 3 vs. Texas Tech, 2000
Interceptions - 1, seven times (plus one in 2000 Fiesta Bowl and one in 2000 Alamo Bowl)
Fumble Caused - 2 vs. Iowa State, 1999
Most Punt Returns/Yards - 6 (84 yards) vs. Kansas, 1999; 92 yards (5 returns) vs. Oklahoma State, 1998
Most Kickoff Returns/Yards - 7-182 vs. La Tech, 1998; 7-185 vs. Missouri, 1997
Long Punt Return/TD - 73 yards (TD) vs. Oklahoma State, 1998
Long Kickoff Return/TD - 99 yards (TD) vs. Louisiana Tech, 1998
Longest Interception Return/TD - 71 yards (TD) vs. Kansas State, 1997