The Denver Broncos on Friday signed free-agent running back Darius Walker, it was announced. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Walker (5-foot-11, 205 pounds) is a third-year player who joins the Broncos after splitting the 2008 season between Houston and St. Louis. He dressed for five games with the Texans in 2008 (Weeks 2-6), but did not play before joining St. Louis' practice squad for a week on Nov. 4. He re-joined Houston's practice squad on Nov. 25 where he finished the season.
Walker entered the NFL as a college free agent with Houston on May 10, 2007, and ranked second on the Texans with 264 rushing yards on 58 carries (4.6 avg.) in four games (2 starts). He added 13 catches for 81 yards (6.2 avg.). Walker started the season on Houston's practice squad before signing to its active roster on Nov. 20. He made his pro debut against Tampa Bay on Dec. 9 before making his first pro start against Denver on Dec. 13. Walker rushed 13 times for 66 yards against the Broncos. He enjoyed a career day on Dec. 30 against Jacksonville when he gained a career-high 86 yards on 10 carries with his first pro touchdown.
At Notre Dame, Walker appeared in 36 games (27 starts) and completed his college career ranked fourth all-time in school annals in rushing yards (3,249) and third in carries (693). He also posted the school's records for most catches by a running back in a season (56 in 2006) and career (109). He eclipsed 100 yards in a game 15 times and scored 26 touchdowns (23 rushing and 3 receiving) in his career. He became just the sixth player in Fighting Irish history to lead the team in rushing for three consecutive seasons.
Walker, 23, was named the 2003 Georgia prep player of the year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a senior at Buford High School in Buford, Ga. He totaled 5,675 rushing yards and 91 touchdowns in his career, including scoring 46 touchdowns as a senior, breaking Herschel Walker's single-season state record of 42. Darius A'Dunte Walker was born Oct. 21, 1985, in Atlanta.