Old Cape Recycling Scholar Athlete: Walker led by example during career with Pleasantville football program

By DAVE O’SULLIVAN
Staff Writer
Someday, Pleasantville senior football player Akeem Walker hopes to possibly become a successful real estate broker. He’s already gotten some experience covering a lot of real estate on the football field as a wide receiver and defensive back, and also being a part of a 2019 class that has raised the value of that piece of land off Route 9.
In just three short years, Pleasantville has virtually erased the memory of a losing streak that lasted for more than 30 games, and now the Greyhounds are not only relevant in South Jersey, they are a South Jersey Group 2 championship contender. Fans have been flocking to the stadium on Friday nights the past two years to watch players like Walker, Elijah Glover, Mohamed Toure and a host of others help bring pride and passion back to Pleasantville football.
Walker, this edition’s Old Cape Recycling Scholar Athlete, didn’t start playing football until his sophomore year, but his impact has been wide ranging in the Greyhounds’ program. He’s become a college prospect on the field, and off the field he sets the standard in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA and an SAT score better than 1,200. This summer, Walker’s character was on full display when he and a few of his buddies helped a 5-year-old boy, who was lost and wandering around Route 9 late at night, get back home by flagging down a Pleasantville Police Department officer. Glory Days Magazine did a follow-up feature after the news initially broke on breakingac.com.

“There were college recruiters in this week and we were talking about character and I actually referenced the story that Glory Days did (in the summer) and they were pleased to hear that’s the type of kid he is,” said Pleasantville football coach Chris Sacco. “Akeem didn’t play until sophomore year so he’s just now coming into his own as a football player, but the academics put him over the top because colleges know what kind of character kid he is and they know he’s not going to come to their school and mess around in the classroom. I’ve been excited to see his maturation as a football player. The second half of this year he even excelled on the defensive side of the ball, which will give him options going forward to play either receiver or defensive back (in college). He’s always been the same lighthearted, fun kid to be around, so that part hasn’t changed.”
“I always wanted to play football, just never got the opportunity to do so. So, sophomore year, my friend Elijah Glover told me to come to the weight room and I just stuck with it, and here I am. I always wanted to play. Ever since I was a little kid, me and my brother (Victor) would always play in the yard and talk about how he was going to be on the Cowboys and I was going to be on the Packers. That’s why I came out to play, I wanted to give it a shot,” said Walker, who also runs track. “When I came in, it wasn’t that hard to get used to it because I had watched the sport so much. But getting used to the contact and learning all the plays took a while. But after playing as a sophomore I got used to it. I remember the first day of training camp and hitting drills and everybody was talking about how I was going to get run over. That was the only thing I was nervous about. But I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better and that has showed. I studied the game more and put in the work over time with teammates like Glover and Mohamed Toure. I was confident this year because I had my teammates behind me and I just wanted to help my team. I got motivation from them and my coaches motivated me and always had faith in me, so I put all that together and went from there.”
The Greyhounds went 4-6 during Walker’s sophomore year, improved to 7-3 last year, and this fall went 8-3, advanced to the sectional semifinals and beat Ocean City on Thanksgiving Day for the first time in four years. That’s a far cry from their 0-10 record four years ago, and Walker and the rest of this year’s senior class has been a big part of that turnaround.
“It feels good. When my brother played, that was the year before coach Sacco came and they were 0-10. When I started playing as a sophomore we started improving and it feels good to be a part of that. This season was a season to remember, definitely. We made a huge step, even though we didn’t get what we wanted in the end. But just to bring attention to the city, and now the city is coming out and supporting us, and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling. This season was a great season and I’m going to miss playing with all these seniors,” Walker said. “(The final game) was a sad moment, but at the same time it was a happy moment because we hadn’t won that game since 2013, so to come out with that win felt good.”
“Akeem has been phenomenal. He’s a kid who came out sophomore year and hadn’t played football before but he started learning the game and hitting the weight room. His personality makes him a very likeable kid. He’s a respectful kid who does what we ask of him — even above and beyond that — and academically he’s been on point, too. Whichever college he lands at is getting a good character kid and a kid who is just starting to hit his peak as a football player,” Sacco added. “This senior class has four football players in the top 25, so it’s a strong class, and ever since sophomore year they’ve been competing in the classroom and on the field. It’s good to see. It’s recruiting season now, and the first thing they ask me about is a kid’s GPA and SAT scores, and if they are not up to their standards, they won’t even speak to the kid. We try to inform our players of that when they come in as freshmen.”
Walker is always competing, in sports and in school, whether it is with his four brothers and one sister, or buddies like Glover and Toure in his senior class.
“I’ve always done well in school, ever since elementary school and I just kept it going from there. All you have to do is pay attention in class and do your homework and everything will fall into place. My siblings always motivated me and my parents always wanted the younger ones to do better than the older ones, and it will be the same thing for my younger brother. My older brother, Victor, was my motivation, everything he did I wanted to do. I basically followed in his footsteps and tried to do better,” Walker said. “It’s always like that. We’re trying to push each other to get into the top 10 in our class. If I go hard, Elijah goes hard and Mohamed goes hard. I’m ranked No. 12 right now and Elijah is No. 13, and we’re like .13 points apart, so we’re neck-and-neck right now. Hopefully we’ll both be in the top 10 by the end of the year.”
Walker said he really wants to play football in college, and is hoping a university will give him a chance to prove himself. He’s working with coach Sacco to reach out to potential schools.
“That’s my plan. Hopefully somebody will give me the opportunity, will see my film and think I’m good enough to play at the next level,” he said. “I personally believe I am, but I’m just praying, so we’ll see what happens. I’m just trying to make the best of my opportunities.”
For now, he’s enjoying wearing his Pleasantville football gear with pride when he and his pals are around town, and soaking up the memories of his senior year of high school.
“People used to say, ‘Pleasantville’s playing Friday night but I’m not going because I already know what the outcome is going to be.’ But now we’ve turned things around, people are coming out to the games and the city is showing love,” Walker said. “People around town will ask how we are doing and we get recognition now when we wear our Pleasantville attire, and that feels good.”
Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays