University of Tennessee Athletics
Jackie Walker, 1971 Vol Football Captain, Dies in Atlanta
December 06, 2002 | Football
Dec. 6, 2002
Memorial services will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Parkview Avenue House of God Church, 2334 Parkview in East Knoxville, for 1971 Tennessee football captain Jackie Walker, who died Thursday, Dec. 5, in Atlanta. He was 51.
A graduate of Fulton High School in Knoxville, where was an All-State selection and also played basketball, Walker played at Tennessee from 1969-71, a time in which the Vols compiled a 30-5 record, won the SEC title in 1969 and played in three bowl games, winning two.
Walker was an All-America selection in 1970 and 1971, the latter year a consensus selection. He was also a two-time All-SEC selection.
"Jackie was a little guy with great explosion," said Lon Herzbrun, who coached Vols linebackers from 1969-76. "I had him listed in the game program as 195, but I doubt if he weighed more than 180."
During his three years at UT, Walker intercepted 11 passes and returned them for 281 yards, fifth best mark in Vol history, and five touchdowns. He is still on the NCAA record books, his mark tied by two others but never broken.
Walker was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1972.
Athletics director Doug Dickey, who was Walker's coach in 1969, said: "Jackie was an extremely fine football player, who could really run and who was a terrific linebacker. He was a great performer for us."
