Valdosta Athletics

In his fifth year on the Blazer coaching staff, Bubba Walker, who moved from a graduate assistant to a full-time assistant position in 2010, works in developing the Valdosta State linebacking corps.

Walker demonstrated his talent in working with linebackers in his first year on the job as two of his charges, Chris Pope and Ryan Smith, earned All-Gulf South Conference honors at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Overall, Blazer linebackers accounted for four of the top six tacklers on the team during the year and tallied a combined 280 tackles on the season. Pope led the group with 92 tackles while linebackers also recorded 20.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions and nine passes broken up.

Walker's influence on the Blazer linebackers was further manifested in 2012 as his unit served as the lead group for a team that won the Division II National Championship. Both Pope and Jeremy Grable earned All-GSC honors at the conclusion of the season, with Pope also garnering Honorable Mention All-America honors. Walker's ability in teaching the game was particularly evident in the play of Pope, who finished the year with 127 tackles, the third-highest single season total in school history. Overall, Walker's charges held the top three spots in the list of total tackles for the season.

Walker again directed the Blazer linebacking corps to success in 2013 as Pope garnered first team All-Super Region 2 and All-Gulf South Conference honors while Grable was named second team All-GSC. Pope's accolades came as he became the Gulf South Conference and Valdosta State all-time leader in tackles.

Walker earned the promotion to full-time coach after working with the Blazer defensive ends in 2010, during which he helped the defensive line enjoy a stellar year. VSU's ends 124 tackles during the 2010 season, including 26.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. Those numbers marked a significant improvement prior to Walker's arrival, as the group tallied just 92 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks during the 2009 season.

Prior to 2010, Walker spent three years as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern, where he worked with both the defenisve ends and rovers. Under his tutelage, former Eagle Chris Covington was named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 while Larry Beard earned 2008 All-Southern Conference honors. Walker also worked with GSU's point after and field goal block teams that blocked five kicks in 2008 and four in 2009.

Walker spent the 2006 season as the on-field graduate assistant with the University of Georgia and helped the Bulldog defense to a No. 8 national ranking on the year. He also sepnt the 2004 and 2005 season with Valdosta State as a graduate assistant after beginning his career as a defensive assistant at the Academy of Richmond County in Augusta, Ga.

Walker played collegiately at Division I Buffalo, where he was a four-year letterwinner at defensive end. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native recorded 68 tackles in his career while starting in each of his last three seasons. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Augusta State in 2004 and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Valdosta State in 2010.