Staying Home: A Quick Q&A With Falcons Rookie Vance Walker

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.—Vance Walker has received a lot of praise early on in training camp and it's come as a surprise to a lot of people. 

The Falcons selected Walker in the seventh round draft pick out of Georgia Tech and he is playing a position where fellow rookie and first-rounder Peria Jerry has a chance to start in—with Trey Lewis being the primary competition.

But when asked who was standing out in camp, Falcons coach Mike Smith singled out Walker.

"When we did our due diligence we thought Vance was a guy that can play in this league, and he's going to get every opportunity in the next 35 days," Smith said. "To this point he's done a great job."

So after practice a couple of days ago, I got a brief interview with Walker and asked a few questions ranging from his coach's praise to staying put in Atlanta after college.

Q: I don't know if you've heard what coach Smith has said to the press, but he said you've stood out in camp so far. What is your reaction to those words?

Vance Walker: "It's a great honor for Coach to say that but at the same time I try to stay out of the newspapers and keep my focus. I know my mom called me and was like, 'Vance, Vance,' but it's not that big of a deal. We just have to expect these things. I have to expect to be successful, that's the only way I'll be able to do it. I'm trying to help this team really. It's not about me getting playing time, it's about helping the team."

Q: How has the adjustment been from playing defensive tackle for Georgia Tech to an NFL team?

VW: "It's strange, but (former Georgia Tech and current Notre Dame defensive coordinator) Jon Tenuta actually coached with our defensive coordinator (Brian VanGorder). And not to say it's the same plays, but a lot of it is the same style so I'm really familiar with things we're doing. The only thing I'm trying to catch on to is the words, like the names of the plays. But I've done that pretty well with a lot of studying."

Q: You were on a Georgia Tech line that was pretty stout, led by Michael Johnson. Do you think that contributed to you possibly being overlooked in the NFL draft and falling to the seventh round?

VW: "It wasn't too big of a deal. I think it was because of my injuries. The way I saw it I was blessed to stay here in Atlanta. I didn't care what round I got drafted in because I still have to play football at the end of the day. It was just a great honor to stay here in Atlanta and help out this team. It's a dream come true. I would have never thought of it four years ago. But I never thought I was overlooked or anything, it's just how it is. It's really just politics with my injuries, but I'm not complaining about it. It's just how it happened."

Q: I know you would have been happy to get drafted anywhere, but were you a little glad you were able to stay in Atlanta?

VW: "It's nice. I didn't have to move or make any new friends or anything like that. It's pretty nice, I'm not going to lie. It's equivalent to going to college in the same city you went to high school in. Like I said, I just have to make the team, make everybody better and make this team better."

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