Derel Walker back in Green and Gold, inks deal with Esks

EDMONTON — Three days after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Derel Walker is making his return to Edmonton.

One of the premier receivers in the CFL over two seasons, Walker was granted his release by the Eskimos last January in order to ink a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.

Walker attended camp with the Bucs before being a final cut on Saturday.

The Texas A&M product is coming off a pair of stellar campaigns in Green and Gold.  In just two seasons Walker established himself as one of the most dominant pass-catchers in the league, posting back-to-back all-star campaigns with 1,000-yards plus.

He was also an integral part of helping the Eskimos capture the 103rd Grey Cup presented by Shaw in his rookie season.

DEREL WALKER, SEEN HERE IN CAMP WITH TAMPA BAY, WAS RELEASED LAST WEEK AND HAS INKED A NEW DEAL WITH EDMONTON (PHOTO: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS).

In 2015, Walker set a new Eskimo single-season-receptions record for a rookie with 89 catches which helped him become a West Division All-Star and a CFL All-Star. Walker was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie.

The following season, he and current Eskimo, Adarius Bowman, set two records, one an Eskimo record for the first time two players recorded 100+ catches in a single season. The duo also set a CFL record for most receiving yards by teammates with a combined 3,318 yards. Walker was also named a West Division All-Star and CFL All-Star for a second consecutive season.