July 24, 2009

By JERRY HILL
Baylor Bear Insider

For J.D. Walton, his second straight Rimington Award nomination is all well and good. And the preseason All-Big 12 nods are certainly welcomed.

But when it comes right down to it, there's only one thing that will satisfy this 6-foot-3, 305-pound senior center. And no, it's not a 20-ounce steak or juicy burger.

"It's good that people recognize me," said Walton, who has started 24 consecutive games at the anchor position for Baylor's offensive line, "but the biggest deal is getting to the bowl game, our first one in 14 years. As a team, that's where we need to be at the end of the year. It's nice (to receive awards), but I know I can't get there without (quarterback Robert Griffin) or (running back Jay Finley) or all of the receivers. I get my accomplishments because of what they do."

Since transferring from Arizona State three years ago, that's been the driving force for Walton. He realizes how close last year's 4-8 team was - three-point losses to Missouri and Connecticut kept the Bears out of their first bowl game since 1994.

"You have to be 100 percent in everything you do," he said, "because we're not going to creep up behind anybody and just beat them and everybody be shocked. That's what we could have done last year, and we just slipped up."

Particularly with tackles Jason Smith and Dan Gay both going on to the NFL, Walton has more responsibility than ever heaped on his shoulders. But that's the way he likes it.

"You're like the second quarterback on the field, the general of the o-line. You tell the other guys what to do," said Walton, who had never played the center position until he came to Baylor. "I'm confident in what we do out there, and I feel like I know the system pretty well. But it doesn't work unless the rest of the guys on the line understand what I'm saying."

In much the same way that Smith became arguably the best offensive tackle in the country - the No. 2 overall draft position by the St. Louis Rams says as much - head coach Art Briles believes that Walton will be the best center in the country.

"There were four or five that came out last year that were really good centers that we had watched," Briles said. "And we know that J.D. is right at the same level that those guys were. He's done a great job of making himself a more complete football player, physically and mentally, which you have to do at the level where we are. It's not that he had many (issues), but you can always work hard to improve yourself. And J.D. has done that."

Co-offensive coordinator Randy Clements, who works with the offensive line, said Walton has matured into one of the team's best leaders.

"He's a guy that's a tremendous athlete for a lineman," Clements said, "and he's got that mean, nasty mentality that you have to have. And this year, in particular, he's really matured as far as taking on that leadership role with Jason leaving."

A communications major who needs three more hours to graduate in December, Walton said that following Smith and Gay to the NFL would be a dream come true.

"I say thank you (to Smith) every time I see him, because he got people out there to watch everybody else," Walton said. "There were scouts at every practice. And that opens it up for guys like Jordan (Lake), Joe (Pawelek), James (Barnard) and me. It's a big dream of mine, and I'm taking steps to get closer to it so that I can have a good year this season."

But in Walton's eyes, his season won't be judged by awards or even the NFL draft. It's bowl game or bust.

"We're all ready to roll," he said. "I can't wait."