Sports Spot with Kevin Murphy/Sports Editor

Pierre Walters, a former Eastern defensive end, played in the Texas vs. Nation All-Star game on Saturday in El Paso, Texas.This entire week, the stock of Walters has risen and all the message boards and recruiting services say he could be a late-round pick in the NFL Draft, which will be held on April 25-26 in New York City.

While Walters said he tries to not look at them anymore, he still keeps tabs on some.
“I’m on top of the world,” Walters said on Sunday. “I had a productive and positive week. It was a great experience.”

Walters had 1 1/2 sacks in the game with a sack in the fourth quarter against Virginia Tech’s Sean Glennon.

Pierre Walters/File Photo
“(This experience is) breathing new life into me,” Walters said.
And for everyone else, how can you not watch the rise of Walters?
Steelerfury.com thinks to think highly of Walters.

This Web site said Walters measured in at 6-feet, 4-inches and 268 pounds, but scouts feel he can get up as high as 290 pounds. He’s displayed good speed off the edge and a nice degree of athleticism. Scouts feel Walters could be drafted in the late rounds and favorably compare him to San Diego Charger defensive end Jacques Cesaire.

Draftinsiders.com said that Walters is a quick, small-college defender who has flashed good pass rushing skills off the edge, displaying good hand usage and strength at the point of attack.

This Web site also said he may be only a situational defender early as a pro but a good developmental project as a pass rusher. He displays good speed on the snap with quick footwork to pressure the pass both with inside and outside moves.

Walters has been in contact with representatives from the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, some of which he has been in contact with when they came to his junior Pro Day.

Walters plans to come back to Illinois in March and train at the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana’s Pro Day.

He finished the 2008 season with 48 tackles (18 solo, 30 assisted) while leading the team with 16.5 tackles for loss.

He also added 4.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and a blocked field goal.

Nfldraftscout.com has Walters rated 26 out of 211 defensive ends. He said he thinks he can be a seventh-round draft pick.

“They put me out there, and I produced,” Walters said.

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