Tag Archives: San Diego Chargers

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Walker, Wayne

Card: Topps 1990
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v Ohio Glory
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Home

Fleet wide receiver Wayne Walker was a free agent pick up from Texas Tech by the San Diego Chargers in 1989. At only 5-8, 162, Walker was nicknamed “bug” by his teammates. He hauled in 24 receptions for 395 yards and a touchdown his rookie season. Wayne’s yards per catch were a strong 16.5 average and he’d put in some time returning punts as well.

In 1992 Wayne would resurface with the San Antonio Riders of the WLAF. He would finish #3 on the team in receptions (26) and yards (294), which was pretty decent considering the team was a ground based offense. In 1997 Wayne would sign with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena League where he’d play for 3 seasons grabbing 84 receptions for 1307 yards and 19 touchdowns. He’d double as a backup return man as well for them during this period and then retire outside of Waco.

I’d get Wayne’s autograph after the infamous game between the Riders and Glory where a hailstorm came up and we all hid underneath the bleachers for half an hour. I recently came across a Wild Card WLAF card of him for the Riders and sent it to him in Waco hoping to get his autograph in 2010 but have not heard back from him. Following are his stats from his WLAF year with the Riders:

Games 10   Rec 26    Yds  294     Avg 11.4         Td 1      Lg 26

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Wilson, Walter

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Score Supplemental 1990
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v. Ohio Glory
See Also: Walter Wilson (2)

The San Diego Chargers selected Walter Wilson with their 3rd round choice of the 1990 draft. Limited to 14 games that year as a back up he posted 10 catches for 87 yards. In 1992 The Ohio Glory selected Walter in their supplemental draft and he did not disappoint. Walter would lead the league in receptions and be ranked 3rd in yards.

By 1994, Walter would go on to play for the CFL and established himself as one of the better receivers playing for the Baltimore Colts, earning the nickname “franchise” by teammates by his prediction that he’d be the ‘franchise player on the team within 3 years’. He helped lead the team to the Grey Cup that year with his outstanding play (50 receptions for 900 yards and 4TD), but in early 1995 he injured his shoulder in the final preseason game and was released by the Colts.

He would be claimed by the Memphis Mad Dogs and filed a grievance with the CFL players union claiming that one of the teams violated the league’s collective bargaining agreement. He’d play for the Mad Dogs for an additional season before the league would fold its North American Expansion plans.

Games 10   Rec 65     Yds 776      Avg  11.9     Lg 52   Td 2

NFL, WLAF

Dodge, Dedrick

Cards: Proset WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992, Ultimate WLAF 1991.
Acquired:  TTM 2010, C/o home.
Sent: 7/30   Received: 8/6 (8 days)

In 1991, Dedrick Dodge was drafted in the 4th round of the positional draft by the London Monarchs. (He was one of the true gems of the WLAF, being that he was not drafted in the NFL before being found by the WLAF.) Dodge would go on in 1991 to grab 2nd Team All World honors, and led the Monarchs with 6 picks that season en route to the league and the Monarch’s first championship.  Dodge had speed and a nose for the ball and would return 2 of those interceptions for touchdowns.  He was picked up by the Seahawks that same year where he played in 1991 and 1992 primarily as a reserve special teams player. Dedrick would also play for the Monarchs in 1992, posting a respectable 3 interceptions in a down year for the former WLAF champions. While the league reorganized after the 1992 season, Dedrick signed with the 49ers in 1994, where he played through 1996 snaring 4 interceptions and playing on special teams. (He won the Superbowl in 1995.) In 1997, Dodge would find himself on the Broncos where he won Superbowl XXXII, and finally in 1998 played one season with the San Diego Chargers before retiring. Since his playing days Dedrick has turned to coaching football and quickly climbed out of the prep school ranks and into college where he coached at ASU as the defensive backs coach in 2009. He is also an avid golfer.

Games 20   Tac  N/a      Int 9      Yds   237       Avg 26.3             lg  62           Td   2