Jailin Walker Back to Playing, and Loving it
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Jailin Walker basks in being a Hoosier. That’s apparent from the moment he reaches the Memorial Stadium Team Room podium, an early August camp practice just completed, more coming.
“How y’all doing,” the senior linebacker says with a light-up-the-room smile while beginning a recent media opportunity.
Walker smiles often, talks enthusiastically. He’s taken his All-Sun Belt Conference skills from James Madison to an Indiana University program seeking a return to Big Ten relevance after consecutive sub-par seasons, and couldn’t be more pumped.
He’s here because of head coach Curt Cignetti and his winning ways, but beyond that he’s here because of defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, who came with Cignetti from James Madison.
“He and I have a special bond,” Walker says of Haines. “He was the only coach that came to my high school. He met me in person. Ever since that day, I felt we had a great bond. He leans on me a lot. He wants me to be the best player I can be. He’s tough on me. That makes me a better player.”
A torn shoulder labrum that sidelined Walker for spring practice -- turning him into a player-coach nicknamed “Coach JWalk” -- is healed. He’s full speed ahead for August camp and the season, which begins Aug. 31 against Florida International.
“I liked coaching up the guys," Walker says, "but it feels great to be back. I’m happy to play football again.”
Cignetti and Haines are just as happy given Walker’s all-over-the-field impact.
“You can see J Walk’s athleticism on the field,” Cignetti says. “Sideline to sideline, he can really run. He’s one of the fastest guys on the team.”
Cignetti’s approach centers on consistency and attention to detail, of doing the right things all the time.
“I've been with Coach Cig for four years,” Walker says. “That was the standard for me coming in my freshman year. Consistency builds confidence, and builds power. Being consistent every day makes you a better team. So, every day we just try to lock in and be consistent.”
Walker figures to be an imposing linebacker force alongside fellow James Madison linebacker transfer Aiden Fischer, who also earned All-Sun Belt honors last season. In his last two years as a Duke, Walker totaled 124 tackles with 8.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks while earning a pair of all-conference accolades. Fisher had 108 tackles, 6.0 for loss, last season.
“They’ve had a lot of reps together,” Cignetti says. “Both good players.”
Haines expects a lot from his linebackers and gives them the freedom to deliver. Last year, James Madison led the country in tackles for loss, averaging 9.1 per game, highlighted by strong linebacker play.
“Coach Haines relies on us heavily,” Walker says. “Since he's the defensive coordinator, he expects us to know as much as he knows. We know the whole defense. We have to know what the defensive linemen are doing, the cornerbacks, the safeties. The linebackers are the quarterbacks of the defense. We train in the meeting room, and he gets us right."
That includes having fun.
“The motto is Fast, Physical, Relentless,” Walker says. “Coach Haines' defense revolves around speed and blitzes. He says freedom equals discipline. He's just letting us fly around, make plays, and enjoy it with the guys.”
Three years in the system, and the experience that comes with it leaves Walker with the biggest leadership responsibility of his career. He embraces it.
“As a freshman and a sophomore, I wasn’t a big leader. I’ve been trying to be more of a leader to the young guys. When I’m gone, they will be right in my footsteps. I coach them as much as I can.”
That includes letting those who have never played for Cignetti understand what the coach demands.
“You want to engrave the winning mindset,” Walker says. “Players come from other programs and they might not have built that winning mindset, that winning process, that Coach Cig brings to us. I try to lean on them, encourage them and get them to be the best players they can be.”
As far as that winning mindset, Walker says, “We try to build it from the first day we were here. We’re finding our identity in camp. I feel it’s working.”
What is that identify?
“Win,” he says.