Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Troy Walters has resigned as offensive coordinator for the Indiana State football program after one season to accept the position of wide receivers coach at Texas A&M. Last season Walters was in charge of the Sycamore quarterbacks and wide receivers in addition to his duties as offensive coordinator. Walters will replace Steve Kragthorpe as the wide receivers coach with the Aggies after he suddenly resigned today (July 26) to be with his family as they face certain medical issues.
A search has already begun to find a replacement for Walters in the coming days.
"It's with a heavy heart that I have accepted an offer to be the wide receivers coach at Texas A&M," Walters said. ""I would like to thank Coach Trent Miles and Indiana State University for giving me my first opportunity to develop young men. Indiana State football will forever have a place in my heart."
Walters helped head coach Trent Miles earn his first collegiate head coaching victory on October 24, 2009 when the Sycamores downed Western Illinois by the score of 17-14 in the annual Homecoming contest in front of over 6,000 fans.
On the playing field, running back Darrius Gates was an All-MVFC honorable mention selection.
"I want to thank coach Walters for his hard work and dedication to the Indiana State football program," Miles commented. "We certainly hate to lose a talented young coach like Troy, but it is a compliment to his talents that Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman looked immediately to him when their position became open. We all wish Troy the best as he moves on to the next step in his coaching career. I will be working hard over the next several days to fill this vacancy in our coaching staff."
He began his NFL playing career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2000 after being selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He finished his rookie season with a 23.1 kickoff return average, seeing action in 12 games. After working for another season primarily as a kick-off return specialist with the Vikings, Walters took his talents to the Indianapolis Colts.
In 2003, Walters started four of 15 games for the Colts and posted career-best numbers with 36 pass receptions for 456 yards and three touchdowns. He recorded receptions in 12 outings, including 10 multiple-reception games.
In 2005, he saw action in all 16 games in Indianapolis, making one start at wide receiver and finished the season with 14 receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns. That season he set single-game career-bests with eight receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown at Seattle on Christmas Eve.
After moving to the Arizona Cardinals in 2006, Walters played in 15 games and had 23 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He scored the Cardinals' first touchdown of 2006 when he pulled in a two-yard pass in the first quarter of the season opener versus San Francisco.
Walters wrapped up his professional career in 2007 with the Detroit Lions. While there, Walters saw significant action as both a wide receiver and punt return specialist.
Prior to working in the professional ranks, Walters was a star wide receiver for Stanford. Over his standout career, Walters recorded 244 pass receptions for 3,986 yards with 26 touchdowns scored. He also reached the end zone three times on punt returns.
He set a new Pac-10 record for career receptions and set the school career marks for receptions and yards as well as ranking second in receiving touchdowns. Walters won the Bilentnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver in college football as a senior with 74 catches for 1,456 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American selection as well as the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. He also took home Burger King Academic All-America and Academic All-Pac-10 honors.
His 3,986 yards receiving was seventh in the history of college football and his 244 pass receptions were 19th.
Walters was born in Bloomington, Ind. His father, Trent Walters, has been an assistant coach at Indiana, Louisville, Washington, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Notre Dame in the college ranks while working in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.
He was a stand-out football player at A&M Consolidated High School School where he was a second team All-Greater Houston and third team All-Texas selection as a senior.
