Senior wide receiver Bryan Walters has signed a two-year rookie free agent deal with the San Diego Chargers, and is slated to participate in this weekend’s mini camp. Walters is the first Cornell player to sign an NFL rookie contract since Kevin Boothe ’06, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. A second-team All-Ivy receiver and special teams returner, Walters finished the 2009 season ranked second in the Ivy League in receiving yards per game (76.4), fifth in receptions per game (5.0) and tied for second with six receiving touchdowns. He also led the conference in yards per catch with 15.3. Walters ranked No. 5 nationally in all-purpose yards per game with 171.6 –– the second-best mark in a season by a Cornell player since Ed Marinaro, whose 1971 campaign saw him finish as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Named Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week three times in 2009, Walters led the Ancient Eight in kickoff return yards (777) and came in at No. 2 in punt return yards (174) and average per return (6.7). During his 2009 campaign, Walters ranked in the top 20 among active players at the Football Championship Subdivision level in 14 categories, and posted three games with more than 200 all-purpose yards. Walters will graduate in May holding Ivy League records for career punt and kick return yards with 972 and 2,790, respectively.
Original Author: Sun Staff