Arden Walker is at the point of his college football career when the next chapter is on his mind.
He also knows that how the current chapter is written will impact the next one.
“I’m really looking forward to just making the best efforts to help the team and get us to where we want to, get to a bowl game and then … improve my draft stock and all that stuff,” the Colorado senior defensive end said this week.
While Walker, a Cherry Creek High School graduate, has an eye on the 2026 NFL Draft, his primary focus is helping the Buffaloes (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) turn the page on a disastrous performance last week at Utah and make a push for a bowl game. That push continues against Arizona (4-3, 1-3) on Saturday at Folsom Field (5 p.m., FS1).
“We’ve got to get to six wins, really,” Walker said. “That’s the bowl eligibility number, so that’s what I’ve been preaching to a lot of guys in the locker room. We’ve got to get there. For us to play in December, we’ve got to continue to make sure we can get wins. We’ve got three wins we need to get and they’re pretty crucial.”
The Buffs are coming off an embarrassing 53-7 loss at Utah, but Walker is one of the leaders hoping to get them back on track.
“We’ve got to respond,” Walker said. “We didn’t do what we were supposed to, clearly by the score and how we played. We’ve got to make sure we come back out, and it’s a new week, so throw it out the trash and get ready for this weekend, make sure we respond to just getting a win.”
Prior to the loss against the Utes, the Buffs upset then-No. 22 Iowa State, 24-17, on Oct. 11. The Buffs’ season also includes one-score losses to undefeated, top-10 teams in No. 7 Georgia Tech and No. 10 BYU.
Those results suggest that CU can turn the page from last week and make a bowl push. Getting there would be big for the program and individual players such as Walker, he said.
“I think in terms of me, like the trajectory of where I’m trying to go, where I’m trying to be, I have a few games left,” he said. “So I want to make the most of my situation, if anything, because like I said, the unknown is coming up pretty soon.”
As head coach Deion Sanders has preached to his players, more wins will often lead to more exposure and better opportunities in the NFL.
Walker has a potential NFL future, and is a key player for the Buffs as they search for bowl eligibility.
Walker is one of CU’s best edge defenders, but doesn’t have the numbers he’s been hoping for this season. Through seven games (he missed the Iowa State game with injury), he has 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, along with four QB hurries.
“The production side, I got to continue just to keep stepping up,” said Walker, who had 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2024. “I kind of hate that I did miss a game because I want to help my team, but I’m glad we was able to win and I’m glad I had people in my position group to step up who did well.
“I really want to take it to the next level, so I’ve got to continue to keep stepping up, no matter what it is: pass rush, playing the run.”
In his first four years of college football, Walker missed out on a bowl just once, in 2023 with the Buffs. (He began his career at Missouri in 2021 and 2022). He’s aiming to get to one more bowl before he’s done.
“If I do my part and make sure that we get the wins that we need to, I think the exposure and by making the plays that come to me, I feel like it’s completely where I need to be,” he said.
“I want to help the team, and the success of the team is going to help me. So that’s what I feel like. I’ve just got to make sure I’m stepping up to the plate and doing more.”