Tray Walker could summarize his rookie season in one sentence.
"It was a learning step for me," the rookie cornerback said.
"There was a lot for me to learn and accomplish this season, adjusting to the length of the season as well as studying the game."
The Ravens knew Walker was going to be somewhat of a project when they drafted him in the fourth round out of Texas Southern. The 6-foot-2, 199-pound small-school prospect spent the entire year on the 53-man roster, but was active for just eight games.
Walker played eight snaps and didn't have a pass come his way.
Even at the end of the season, when the Ravens moved Lardarius Webb to safety, Baltimore turned to Sheldon Price and Jumal Rolle ahead of Walker. Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees explained those decisions by saying they practiced better.
Still, Walker has time to develop into an impact player.
"We still hold a lot of promise for Tray," General Manager Ozzie Newsome said at the season-ending press conference.
In mid-December, Head Coach John Harbaugh said Walker was "up and down" in practice, but that he's very coachable and a "sponge" who wants to learn.
It's a big jump from Texas Southern to the NFL, and Walker learned that during his rookie year. He said the length of the season and the speed of the game were two "tremendous" adjustments.
"I learned a lot," Walker said. "The things I was doing in college and getting away with, I can't get away with here. You've got to focus on your man and not just try to make plays like I used to try to do in college."
Walker said the lack of playing time was, at some points, frustrating. Next year, he'll enter another tough competition, especially if the Ravens add more youth via the draft as expected.
"I'll just use that as an edge for me," Walker said. "I'll learn from this season and hope that I can come back strong next year and get on the field and make the plays they want me to make."
