Walker's hustle play saves the day, again
Mike Readling, The St.Petersburg Times, published 3 October 2005

Early in the fourth quarter on a hot day, during a close game, the last thing Bucs tackle Kenyatta Walker wanted to see was Detroit's Terrence Holt snare a Brian Griese pass and start back his way.

Walker - all 6 feet 5 and 302 pounds - started a slow rumble toward the sideline, hoping to be able to cut off Holt's angle. As the Lions defender dodged Bucs, Walker's rumble became more of a fast roll and the angle he took put him right on Holt's shoulder pad, allowing enough of a hit to make the tackle and, for the second straight week, save a go-ahead score.

It might not have been an 80-yard touchdown but Walker's tackle was one of the biggest, if not the biggest play made by an offensive player in the game. "That was big time," defensive tackle Simeon Rice said. "That lets you know Kenyatta has grown up. Kenyatta is playing like a Pro Bowler. Kenyatta right now is one of the best tackles in this league not being talked about. Overall, he's a beast. That's mean right there. That right there saved us."

For his part, Walker said he was just hustling, hoping to make something positive happen. And, no, he does not plan to make a career out of chasing down smaller, much quicker defensive backs. "If I have to make tackles all year, I guess that's what I have to do," he said. "It's nice to be winning games instead of being blamed for losing them."