Walker climbing EE’s career receiving lists

It was a drive for the ages.

Needing a win to stay in the playoff chase and trailing the host Saskatchewan Roughriders 24-23, the Edmonton Elks started from their own 32 with just 1:03 remaining.

Elks quarterback Taylor Cornelius first completed a pass to Derel Walker for 20 yards. On the next play, Cornelius connected with Walker again to move the ball 10 yards. Moments later, Walker made an eight-yard catch that put Edmonton at the Roughriders’ 40 with 28 seconds left.

In 35 seconds, Edmonton drove 38 yards, all gained by Walker, to set up Sergio Castillo’s field goal that lifted Edmonton to a 26-24 Week 15 victory at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

“I’m just happy that I was able to secure those catches and help the team get in field goal range,” the veteran wide receiver said. “Those three catches, back-to-back-to-back, were really awesome.”

Not only were Walker’s three clutch receptions the most important plays of this season for the Elks; they also hold great significance in Edmonton’s 73-year CFL history.

Walker’s first catch was his 388th as a member of the Green and Gold, tying the great Jason Tucker for ninth on the franchise all-time list. The second, No. 389, moved him past Tucker and into a tie with Canadian Football Hall of Famer Tommy Joe Coffey. And the third put Walker in sole possession of eighth place in team history with 390 receptions.

“When I saw that on Twitter, I was like, ‘Oh man, that’s awesome,” said the native of Hillsboro, Texas, a town of around 8,000.

“It really was a humbling feeling, and I’m just grateful and thankful that God has allowed me to go through everything I’ve been through, because where I’m from there’s just not too many people playing football past high school.”

Walker, who has 5,393 receiving yards in Green and Gold, is 103 yards from passing Jim Sandusky for 11^th all-time in franchise history. Beyond that, he would need only 22 more yards to move in front of Waddell Smith, a member of Edmonton’s iconic five consecutive Grey Cup wins from 1978 to 1982, for 10th in the team record book, with 5,517 receiving yards.

“It gives me a chill, because your whole life, you play this game to be the best you can be, and it’s just an honour to be in the conversation with guys who were in that era, and guys who were here before me or guys who will be after me at some point,” said Walker, who is in his sixth season with Edmonton’s CFL team. “Just even to be in the top 15 is an honour, because of how many guys came through here that were really special and talented.”

In Edmonton’s last two games, the 31-year-old Walker has totaled 109 and 100 receiving yards, giving the 31-year-old his first back-to-back 100-yard performances since 2018.

“I’ve just been trying to be consistent and have a competitor’s edge,” said Walker, the 2015 CFL Most Outstanding Rookie award winner. “I’m never acting like you know everything, I’m always looking to learn from whoever’s out there. If a young guy comes in and does something I like, I’m like, ‘that was nice, I like that’. I give guys their props.

“At 31, I’m just thankful to still be playing the game I was playing at the age of 12. It’s a blessing.”