Former Dacula HS Standout Prepping For Air Force Life

DACULA, GA -- For four years at the U.S. Air Force Academy, former Dacula High School football standout Dexter Walker played through pain while handling a college workload that would be too much for most folks on its own.

Now, he's preparing for his next big assignment: the Air Force itself.

The Gwinnett Daily Post has a nice feature up on Walker, who was back in town recently after graduation from the Colorado academy.

"It was hard for sure," Walker said of his four years at Air Force. "It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done, hands down. It was hard being away from home, away from my family, especially my niece and nephew. They’re really young. But everybody says it’s worth it. Looking back, the people I got to meet, shaking the president’s hand at graduation, those type of things you will never forget. I have a career ahead of me and I’m waiting to see what it holds."

Walker reports in August for the start of his mandatory five-year active duty commitment to the Air Force. The service period is a return on free education received by military-academy cadets and, at Air Force, is valued at $416,000.

He'll be stationed in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the location that serves as the Air Force's main space-operations base. His job title will be space operations officer.

"I’m 100 percent excited," said Walker, who majored in management with a minor in engineering. “A lot of my teammates and close friends who are space operators say they like it and it’s pretty close to home for me. And I’m getting away from the cold weather in Colorado. I’m blessed to have this opportunity because a lot of people don’t make it."

Walker talked with the Daily Post about highlights of his college football career, including a sophomore year when he finished second on the team with 91 tackles despite finishing the season with a torn meniscus.

He also fought through a torn labrum his final two years at Air Force -- an injury that didn't stop him from contributing, including during a 2014 season when Air Force went 10-3 and notched a win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. He returned a fumble for a touchdown in that game.

Walker says he's considering making a career of the military after his five years are up. He'd also like to coach football at the youth or high school level, as well as pursue a master's degree, he said.

To read the Gwinnett Daily Post's profile, click here.

(Photo via U.S. Air Force Academy)