Cornerback Walker winding up level playing career for Sooners

GLENDALE, Ariz. — In a flash, cornerback Marcus Walker went from making one of the greatest defensive plays in Oklahoma history to barely making the game's highlights.

In last year's Fiesta Bowl, Walker's 33-yard interception for a touchdown gave OU a 35-28 lead over Boise State with a minute left in the fourth quarter.

Walker's glory, however, was short-lived.

Boise State connected on a hook-and-ladder to send the game into overtime, then converted on two more trick plays to win 43-42.

Wednesday, the Sooners will have a chance at redemption against West Virginia in this year's version of the Fiesta Bowl in the final game of Walker's career.

"That goes to show you can be on cloud nine and be on the ground in no time,” Walker said. "Football is peaks and valleys.”

That may be true, but Walker's four-year career has been as level as the Oklahoma plains.

Walker, out of Waco, Texas, has started the last two seasons, but often has been overshadowed in the headlines by others in the defensive backfield like Reggie Smith and D.J. Wolfe.

"He's just been a regular, solid player,” defensive backs coach Bobby Jack Wright said. "He's not particularly flashy, but he's had a solid career and been a good player for us. And he's a great guy off the field. You'd like all of them to be that way.”

Walker has only three interceptions in his career, and none this year, but the one he made last season against the Broncos arguably could've been among the great plays in Sooner history had OU held on for the victory.

Walker hasn't forgotten that, either.

When he learned his favorite video game, NCAA Football 2008, had Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky on the cover, Walker paid extra money to have former OU standout Adrian Peterson put on the cover of his ordered game instead.

"To lose like we did left a bad taste,” Walker said. "It was like a bad dream.

"But it's good to be back. It's exciting.”