Walker was named Mr. Football as the state’s top player by this newspaper in 1998 after finishing his high school career with 5,153 yards and 76 touchdowns. He was a USA TODAY and Parade All-American and a consensus pick as one of the nation’s top two tailbacks. Every school in the country recruited him. He went on to play at Mississippi State, where his career total of 1,875 yards ranks 10th in school history.

If things had gone the way many of us thought 15 years ago, Dontae Walker would’ve spent Saturday watching the NFL Draft, perhaps seeing who his team would select to replace him as his successful NFL career came to a close.

As you probably know, Dontae Walker never made it to the NFL.

A questionable work ethic, followed by legal troubles, derailed those plans for the once promising Clinton High and Mississippi State star.

So instead, Walker spent Saturday at Thalia Mara Hall in downtown Jackson. It was a moment that seemed to make him just as proud as he would have been had he ever heard an NFL commissioner call his name on draft day.

Walker, now 33, was awarded his bachelor of science degree in social services during graduation ceremonies for Belhaven University.

“Man, this is a big day for me,” said Walker, fighting back tears. “I wanted to cry when they called my name. It’s been a long ride and I have been working hard. I want people to see I am a productive member of society. A lot of people thought I wasn’t ever going to do it. I had to prove to myself and to my family and my Mississippi State fans that I could do it.”

It’s a day that Walker had been waiting for.

I still remember getting a phone call from him two years ago around the time he was enrolling at Belhaven.

“Make sure you come to my graduation one day so people can see I am doing something positive,” he pleaded that day.

He reminded me again last summer. And then again earlier this month. And once more Friday. And then there was one last text Saturday, about an hour before the ceremonies were about to begin.

“U coming?” he asked via text.

He wanted to make sure folks knew he was graduating.

Walker’s name was one of the last ones called to walk across the stage Saturday. Unlike many of the others who strolled across the stage before him, the applause for Walker was pretty light.

Most of the people had no clue who Dontae Walker is.

That wouldn’t have been the case 15 years ago.