Temple DT Hershey Walton plays hard, studies harder

Temple defensive tackle Hershey Walton has made 20 career starts and is a preseason second-team all-conference selection in one publication, but the redshirt senior's most impressive work has been done away from the football field.

In fact, there is one unofficial team record he is truly proud of.

"Freshman year I had the most study hall hours on the team," Walton said after practice Tuesday.

That is significant because Walton didn't enter Temple with an upstanding academic reputation.

By the end of December, however, he will earn his master's degree.

"I didn't even see myself getting a degree because I was a non-qualifier coming out of high school," Walton said.

Walton graduated from Reading High and then had to attend Fork Union prep school before enrolling in Temple in January 2011.

He first learned about study halls at Fork Union, where the players weren't allowed to talk. Just to make sure they didn't, the school would have an officer patrolling the hall.

He said his study habits continued to grow at Temple.

Walton earned an undergraduate degree in advertising and said his master's will be in tourism hospitality management with a concentration in operations.

The 6-foot-4, 314-pound Walton has certainly developed as a football player at Temple, but it could be argued that he has shown even more growth as a student.

"What I learned here was how to study better and to have a better work ethic in class," he said.

The learning wasn't always easy, especially in the beginning.

"It was a challenge because I wasn't used to writing a lot of papers," he said. "I made myself stay longer in study hall."

That is how he set the team study hall record as a freshman and is on his way to setting himself up for success upon graduation.

"I want to have my own restaurant," he said.

Of course, he would gladly delay such plans if he can extend his football career.

Walton said he had an assortment of bumps and bruises and just recently began practicing more during preseason camp. Last season he appeared in all 12 games, starting nine, with 32 tackles - 4.5 for loss.

"He plays hard inside, is real physical inside, hard to move," Temple defensive coordinator Phil Snow said. "And he plays really hard for a 310-pound player."

He has played hard, but studied harder. When asked if he is prouder of his playing or his academic achievements, Walton said it was a dead heat.

"I am proud of both," he said. "You have to juggle the two, and both have come together for me."

Notes. Temple awarded its final two single-digit numbers to junior running back Jahad Thomas and redshirt sophomore linebacker-defensive end-fullback Nick Sharga. Thomas will wear No. 5 and Sharga No. 4. The single-digit numbers are awarded to the nine toughest players on the team (not including offensive linemen, who must wear numbers between 50 and 79). The players vote on this. "It's quite an honor," Sharga said. . . . Referring to the Sept. 5 opener at Lincoln Financial Field, a Temple official said, "We have not sold out for Penn State yet but are very close."

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