MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football running back Kareem Walker recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss his journey to South Alabama, if he tries to model his running style after any other backs and where he want's to get better as the season progresses, among other things.

Walker, a senior from Livingston, N.J., joined the Jaguar program after transferring from Mississippi State. The 6-foot running back leads the team with 208 rushing yards, 69.3 yards per game and four touchdowns. Walker spent two seasons at Mississippi State and one at Fort Scott [Kan.] CC after beginning his collegiate career at Michigan.

First off, you've had quite the journey here to South. Talk to me about it.
"It was a long journey to get here. There were a lot of long nights, doubtful nights, nights I cried to myself, but I never gave up. I always had the right people around me and the right mindset during all my trials and tribulations. I just stayed strong and had people behind me who made sure I did the things I needed to do in order to become the person I wanted to become."

What's a positive that you've been able to take away from those experiences?
"I became a man. All of those stops made me a better man than when I left Irvington, N.J."

What strength do you bring to the running back unit?
"I like to be a game changer, I always have even back before high school. I also bring a good attitude and the right mindset to the other guys when they are in the game."

How have you used your previous experiences to help the group?
"I just try to give them good advice, advice I have or would use. I relay things I've been told by other coaches in the past. If you're tired and you don't think you're going to do good in a rep, don't even put it on film and let someone else take the rep. I just try to pass along things I've been told by other coaches, running backs and guys that I've looked up to."

Do you try to model your game after a particular running back?
"To be honest with you, I don't try to model anyone specifically. Every running back is different. There are a bunch of great running backs in the NFL, but they all do something different. I like to watch Derrick Henry, I like to watch Zeke [Ezekiel Elliot], I like to watch Dalvin Cook. I try to really watch every running back that I can, so that I can take little things that each does and then add it to my game so that I can make myself a better running back."

What do you feel are some of the strengths of the offense?
"We have the ability to score when we want. If all 11 men do their job, we have the ability to run the offense at a fast pace and an elite level."

What are some things the offense needs to do in order to be successful the rest of the season?
"We all want to get off to a faster start offensively. None of us like starting slow. I think our offense is great, we just need to start faster."

What were some areas you wanted to focus on improving on coming into the season?
"I just want to continue to get better every game. I'm never satisfied with my performance. It's funny, but against Alcorn State I had 150 yards rushing and three touchdowns, but the only play on my mind after the game was when I wasn't able to pick up the first down for Coach [Kane] Wommack on a third-and-two play late in the game. We went on to win the game, but in that moment, I started to realize how important certain aspects of the game are in football. Once I went home that night and was able to sit down and take a deep breath, I was able to think about how important that third-and-two play was for us. I need to continue to get better at situational plays. I also want to be a game changer and play big-time ball at an elite level. I'm focused on those situations."

How do you feel that you've improved as a back since beginning your collegiate career?
"I've gotten better in protection, as far as picking up the defender. I also have a good eye for spotting the blitzing linebacker. I played at Michigan where Don Brown was the defensive coordinator who threw a ton of blitzes and played a bunch of cover zero. It was crazy for me my first year coming out of high school, but eventually you get used to the blitzes. They say your eyes will tell you everything, so I feel that I've just improved on my football IQ and pass protection. I also have gotten better catching the ball out of the back field."

You suffered an injury after having your best game of the season against Alcorn State. How anxious are you to get back out on the field?
"I'm really anxious. It's really tough watching your teammates take the field. Throughout the week I've tried to keep a neutral mindset. Watching them take the field against Louisiana was tough at first, but I'm anxious to get back out there. The doctors have told me to take it slow so I can come back at 100 percent."

What factored into your decision to come to South Alabama?
"I like the new coaching staff. Many of them came from different places. Coach [Dwike] Wilson and Coach [Earnest] Hill did a great job recruiting me. I like the way they do things. They don't baby you. They tell you that this is the schedule and the expectation is for you to be where you're supposed to be and this is how you're supposed to act. They model it after the NFL, which I really like."

You already hold one degree and are working on your second. What do you want to do after your football career is over?
"Coming out of high school, I always told myself that I wanted to become an FBI agent. Besides that, I would like to open up some businesses. Which ones, I'm not particularly sure of at the moment. I would like to first see where I'm at and what is something that area needs."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"I play Call of Duty a lot."

You are from New Jersey. How often is your family able to watch you play?
"Ever since I've been in college, I've played far from my home, so it's been tough for my family to come to games. I also wasn't really playing a lot early on in my career, so I didn't really want them to come if I wasn't playing. Since I've been at South Alabama, they've come to two games. The first was at Bowling Green, where I actually was able to meet some family I've never met before that lived in Ohio, which was really cool. They also came to the Alcorn State game."

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
"My mom. She's a strong lady. I'm not going to say that she did it all by herself, because she had the help of my dad before he passed away. She taught me right from wrong and never gave up on her own trials and tribulations, which motivated me. You're young and you don't really know what's going on, but you just know something is. We always made it through those times. That's my lady."

Lastly, if you could, what other sport would you play?
"I would play baseball. I quit that game when I was younger. That's the only sport I ever quit in my life."

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