After ranking second in the Southern Conference with four interceptions as a junior in 2011, was slated to be a starting cornerback a season ago … however, an illness early in fall camp revealed a rare blood condition that can cause severe internal ailments when left unchecked … the condition limited him to just seven games last season … participated fully in spring practice with no setbacks and re-earned a starting role at cornerback … when healthy, is a stout defender with blazing speed and a nose for the ball, as evidenced by his five takeaways as a sophomore in 2011.

2012: Fell ill following a practice during the opening week of fall camp, which revealed a rare blood condition that can cause severe internal disorders … due to the condition, which can be exacerbated by heat, did not return to action until the fifth week of the season and saw action in just seven games … made three starts at left cornerback (vs. Coastal Carolina, at Georgia Southern, vs. Furman) … made 11 tackles in his limited playing time … was most productive in late-season wins over Georgia Southern and Furman that secured Appalachian’s seventh Southern Conference championship in eight years … made a season-high five tackles in win at top-ranked GSU … had three stops and broke up a pass in title-clinching triumph over Furman.

2011: Played in all 12 games with nine starts at left cornerback … made first-career start in third game of the season against Savannah State and started nine of the final 10 games of the campaign … ranked second on the team and tied for second in the Southern Conference and 21st nationally with four interceptions … tied for 13th in the SoCon with six passes defended (four INT, two pass break-ups) … finished with 26 tackles on the season, 24 of which came at left cornerback (the other two came on kickoff coverage) … made four tackles in the season opener at Virginia Tech … had six tackles and first-career interception in starting debut against Savannah State … made one of the team’s most critical plays of the season when he scooped up an errant snap on a field-goal attempt and returned the fumble 74 yards for Mountaineers’ first touchdown of the day late in the third quarter of a 14-12 win over No. 13 Chattanooga … also broke up a pass and had three tackles in the win over UTC … had two interceptions that he returned for a total of 47 yards in homecoming win over Samford … returned fourth interception of the year 24 yards during regular-season home finale versus Western Carolina … after making a total of four tackles over the previous six games, registered a season-high eight stops in 28-21 come-from-behind win at Elon in regular-season finale.

2010: Appeared in eight games, largely in a reserve role at wide receiver ... was moved to cornerback late in the season but did not see game action at the position ... did become the Mountaineers’ primary kickoff returner late in the season ... fielded nine kicks over the final three games of the campaign and totaled 199 yards in returns (22.1 ypr) ... had five returns for 123 yards (24.4 ypr) in season-ending loss to Villanova.

2009: Redshirted.

High School: Topped 1,000 all-purpose yards as a senior, including 467 rushing yards and 388 receiving yards ... his nine touchdowns in 2008 included two on kick returns ... had nearly 1,000 receiving yards as a junior in leading Brookwood to the GISA Class AA state championship ...  scored two touchdowns in Brookwood’s 41-0 win in the 2007 state championship game, including his second kick return for a score of the season on the game’s opening kickoff ... coached by Shane Boggs ... also helped lead BHS to the 2007-08 basketball state title and was an all-state honoree on the hardwood.

Personal: Full name is Rodger Thomas Walker ... born April 11, 1991 (22 years old) ... son of Roger and Maggie Walker ... majoring in health promotion.