UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Rasheed Walker stepped on Penn State's campus in 2018 as a talented prospect with untapped potential.
Fast forward three years, and Walker has been voted as a team captain by his coaching staff, in what was close to a unanimous decision.
"He was really good last year, but… all of the other boxes, he's checking right now," head coach James Franklin said. "I think him being voted as a captain from our organization, it was pretty much a landslide, and I think that's telling."
The standout offensive lineman earned third-team All-Big Ten honors last season, yet has managed to make drastic strides over the course of the offseason that have captured the attention of his teammates and coaching staff.
"From last year to this year, his improvement physically and mentally and as a leader is probably as dramatic as any guy I've ever been a part of," Franklin said.
"'Sheed' has turned a lot of heads in the past year, it's not only on the field," quarterback Sean Clifford said. "I think that's where he's made his biggest strides, being a leader vocally and also on the field setting the example for the offensive line."
Walker enters the 2021 season with a surplus of experience directing traffic on the offensive line. In three seasons as a Nittany Lion, the redshirt junior has appeared in 26 career games and made 22 starts.
Standing tall at 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, Walker has always had the build and athleticism necessary to transform into an impact player in the trenches.
By his own head coach's admission, however, it's not a common occurrence for a player to make the leaps like Walker.
Moreover, due to confounding factors regarding one's character, durability and experiences, Franklin believes it's difficult to foresee any of his student athlete's trajectories.
"Early on with all of these guys, I think it's hard to say as a freshman, who they're going to be four years later," Franklin said. "They grow, they evolve, they face adversity and challenges."
Although Walker had jumped out on tape as someone whose physicality and mere presence could give Penn State a significant edge up front, it took years of diligence and attention to detail to refine his technique and transcend into not only a team captain, but someone with whom his quarterback has the utmost trust.
"I'm really happy to have him on my team, especially on my offensive line, especially my blind side," Clifford said.
Aside from tangible development at the line of scrimmage, Walker has also used the lessons he's learned since his freshman year to make his voice heard off of the field.
Through his relentless desire to improve year after year, Walker earned a strong reputation among his peers as one who not only leads with his voice, but by example.
"Not only being the best player on the team, but also being about it in the locker room, outside the facility," Clifford said.
