University of Tennessee Athletics
Former QB, DT Earned Legend Status
November 01, 2007 | Football
Jeff Francis and Darwin Walker have very little in common. Francis played quarterback for Johnny Majors in the 1980s; Walker played defensive tackle for Philip Fulmer in the 1990s. Saturday, they will stand on the field together for the first time as Tennessee Legends.
Francis, a native of Mt. Prospect, Ill., started under center for three seasons for the Vols from 1986-88, passing for a total of 5,685 yards and 25 touchdowns. He led the Vols to their first 10-win season under Johnny Majors and a Peach Bowl victory over Indiana in 1987.
After college, Francis spent three years in the NFL, one with the Los Angeles Raiders and two with the Cleveland Browns. He then returned to Knoxville and began working for First Tennessee Bank. He is still with the company today, serving as a senior investment officer.
Walker, a transfer from North Carolina State, played three seasons on Rocky Top from 1997-99. He posted 119 tackles, 14 sacks and 19 other tackles for loss in that span. Walker also started all 13 games at defensive tackle during Tennessee???s run to the 1998 BCS National Championship.
Walker was named a captain of the 1999 team and earned All-SEC honors in 1998 and 1999. He was selected in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and contributed to their run of four straight trips to the NFC championship game from 2001-04.
He has played in six games for Chicago this year after being traded to the Bears in the offseason.
Becoming a Tennessee legend isn???t about time and place, but how you played the game. Francis and Walker played on different sides of the ball in different eras of Tennessee football, but the way they played will always make the Volunteer faithful proud.
