PJ Walker

### NFL

Indianapolis Colts (2017-19 as practice squad only)Houston Roughnecks (2019-2020)

Carolina Panthers (2020-)

## Stats

### Rush Yards

99

**Phillip Walker**, better known by his nickname "**PJ Walker**", is an American Football Quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. Previously, Walker had been part of the Indianapolis Colts practice squad for 2 years, then played as quarterback for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL for 1 season. He signed a contract with the Panthers after the rest of the XFL season was cancelled.

## Early Life & High School (1995-2013)

Walker was born in 1995 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to parents Tamicha Drake and Phillip Walker Sr. Walker attended Elizabeth High School. During his junior year, Walker threw for 2,168 yards and 18 touchdowns, while going 120-of-189 (63.5 percent) in passing percentage. Following the completion of his high school career, Walker chose to attend Temple University, under head coach Matt Rhule.

Reference list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip\_Walker\_(American\_football)

## College Career (2013-2017)

After accepting an athletic scholarship to attend Temple University, Walker played for coach Matt Rhule's Temple Owls team from 2013 to 2016.
2013 season
Walker began his collegiate career as a backup to Connor Reilly. Walker would eventually earn the starting spot at quarterback in week 6 against Cincinnati, where he would throw his first collegiate touchdown. Walker obtained his first win of his career in week 7 against Army, by a score of 33-14. He would receive his first collegiate weekly award (QB of the week - CFPA - honorable mention) following a 59-49 loss to SMU in week 9. In the final week of the season, Walker earned American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week and was a finalist for the Manning Award. Walker would finish his freshman year having started 7 out of 12 games.
2014 season
Walker's sophomore season did not include as many highlights as his 2013 debut performance; however, Walker did earn career-high completions (29) and pass attempts (49) in a losing effort against Navy in Week 2. Walker was able to secure three honorable mentions during the season (Weeks 1, 2 and 4) and passed for at least 1 touchdown in his first seven games.
2015 season
Walker would start every game in his junior year, becoming only the third person to do so in Owl history. In a rare feat, Walker would both throw for and receive a pass in two, two-point conversion attempts, in Week 8, in a winning effort against UCF. Walker would lead the Owls to a 10-4 overall record (7-1 in conference play), earning a bid to the Boca Raton Bowl in losing effort against the Toledo Rockets by a score of 17-32. He finished the season with a school record 2,972 passing yards and tied the record for total offense (rushing and passing) with 3,179 yards.
2016 season
Walker's final year at Temple was a record-setting season for the senior. In the season opener against Army, Walker became Temple's all-time passing yards leader (10,273 yards). Walker would again lead the Owls to a bowl game at the end of the season, following a 10-4 overall record (7-1 in conference); Walker and the Owls would lose the Military Bowl 26-34 against Wake Forest. Additionally, Walker would receive numerous honors, accolades and watch-list nominations in the 2016 season, including American Athletic Conference Championship Game Most Outstanding Player, CFPA National Player of the Year Watch List, Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, as well as multiple preseason and conference recognitions.
Collegiate records
As of June 2017, Walker is the Owls all-time leader in wins by a starting quarterback (28), passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, attempts, total yards and total touchdowns. Walker lead the Owls to their first conference title in 49 years (2016) and their first ever back-to-back bowl appearances in school history (2015 and 2016).

Reference list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip\_Walker\_(American\_football)

## Professional Career (2017-)

### Indianapolis Colts (2017-2019)

Indianapolis Colts
On May 3, 2017, Walker was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on September 2, 2017 and was signed to the Colts' practice squad the next day. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Colts on January 1, 2018.
On September 1, 2018, Walker was waived by the Colts and was signed to the practice squad the next day. He spent time on and off the Colts practice squad before being released on December 26, 2018, but was re-signed three days later. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 13, 2019.
On August 31, 2019, Walker was waived by the Colts and signed to the practice squad the next day, only to be released two days later.

Reference list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip\_Walker\_(American\_football)

### Houston Roughnecks (2019-2020)

In October 2019, Walker was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks of the newly formed incarnation of the XFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers attempted to sign a contract with Walker, however, the XFL blocked this signing as Walker was already with the Roughnecks.

In his first game with the Roughnecks, Walker scored 4 touchdowns against the Los Angeles Wildcats, sealing the victory for the Roughnecks, 37-17. After this game, Walker was named star of the week for the league. In week 2, Walker and his team would narrowly prevail over the St. Louis Battlehawks, after the team's quarterback, Jordan Ta'amu, threw 2 interceptions, giving the Roughnecks the win, 28-24. In week 3, Walker would secure a win against the Tampa Bay Vipers, 34-27. In week 4, the Roughnecks competed in the "Texas Throwdown", a game between the two XFL teams in Texas, the Houston Roughnecks, and the Dallas Renegades. The Roughnecks would win the game after a costly sack from the Renegades' quarterback, Landry Jones, gave Houston a touchdown, securing them with the win, 27-20. In week 5, Walker would score another win against the Seattle Dragons, 32-23. Walker would leave the team after the cancellation of the rest of the season.

### Carolina Panthers (2020-)

On March 23, 11 days after the cancellation of the season, Walker signed a contract for quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.