In life, it’s near-impossible to achieve the goal of maximum success. Obstacles, difficulties and hard-hitting safeties constantly stand in the way. However, Libertyville High School graduate and current Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kevin Walter is catching his dream. The journey wasn’t easy, and those hours in the weight room will never be restored. Nevertheless, the fact that he got to where he is today is unparalleled by many.

   “I’ll just keep working hard. Whatever you do in life, work hard at it,” said Walter.

   Walter, even with the remarkable success he has obtained, started his journey like many aspiring football players do in Libertyville: at the Libertyville Boys Club. However, the rising athlete wasn’t always the star wideout we’ve come to know. In fact, before football, Walter only wanted to skateboard. Skateboarding was initially his true passion, until he decided to commit himself to football. John Teichman, a coach of Walter’s at LBC, had nothing but respect and admiration for the young player, yet did admit that Walter didn’t jump out at you early on.

   “He had your typical 13-year-old personality…he was no standout at that point,” said Teichman.

   Walter, however, had one advantage over every kid out on the field: his work ethic. Walter never took a play off and “even in the most boring practices, he was out there busting his tail all the time,” said Teichman. Walter was the definition of a workhorse. He worked hard on the field, determined to be the best, and pushed himself to the top. While Walter credits much of his dedicated habits to the tutelage of his parents and coaches, it’s clear that he possessed a unique drive from his early on in his career.

   “You knew he would be successful in whatever he did because of his work ethic,” stated Teichman. “He always came and gave 100% all the time.”

   While Walter started his journey with LBC, his true value was proven playing for the Libertyville Wildcats. Walter, who by then had grown into his imposing wide receiver/ tight end frame, was beginning to show signs of greatness. Greatness, however difficult it may be to obtain, was not achievable without a coach to guide him. Luckily for Walter, he received one of the best: Coach Randy Kuceyeski.

   “[Coach Kuz] always pointed me in the right direction,” said a humbled Walter, “and I’ll always respect him for that.”

   Coach Kuceyeski still maintains the generosity and team-first attitude of his most famous apprentice, even after all of his triumphs as a football player.

   “One thing that stands out about Kevin is how humble he is…it was always ‘What can I do for the team?’ before anything,” Kuceyeski said.

   Despite Walter’s glaring talent at wide receiver, the coaching staff decided to move him to tight end before his senior year to accommodate for a crop of skilled wideouts coming up to the varsity level. It was a change that many young players could have resisted; tight end lacks the glory that the wide receiver positions have, according to popular belief.

   “You just have to roll with the punches. Don’t worry about the things you can’t control, just capitalize on the opportunities you get,” Walter said.

   And capitalize he did. In the 1998 season opener, Walter snagged 10 receptions to kick off a senior campaign that re-wrote the record books. He hauled in 48 passes for 801 yards and 6 touchdowns en route to earning All-Conference, All-Area, and All-County honors.

   The Wildcats finished with a 10-1 record after losing for the first time that year in the second round of the playoffs Walter’s senior year. Among other leaders on the team was Newsom award-winning quarterback J.C. Harrington, whose talent certainly highlighted Walter’s strengths. Harrington cherished throwing to such an athletically gifted receiver.

   “If I threw the ball anywhere near Kevin, it was almost guaranteed that he was going to come down with it.  Not only does he have amazing hands, but he’s incredibly athletic,” commented the altruistic Harrington, who eventually walked on at Harvard University.

   Walter’s impact on the team  went deeper than the physical presence he brought to the table. More importantly, he earned the respect of his teammates.

   “I literally can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have on my team (or on my side for anything) — you just knew that Kevin had your back and was going to do anything in his power to help the team win,” said Harrington, who, like Walter, earned All-State honorable mention his senior season.

   Walter is not only respected by teammates, but his coaches as well. His drive to succeed in all aspects of life commanded the admiration of everyone that surrounded him.

   “He was a strong leader because he led by example and he backed it up. He made big plays,  plus he out worked you in the weight room and took care of his academics,” said Jeff Woodruff, Walter’s head coach at Eastern Michigan University.

   Despite all of the physical weapons that Walter possessed coming out of high school, (he was 6’3” and 215 pounds, while running a head-turning 4.5 second 40-yard dash), he was not a hotly pursued recruit. Several schools offered him chances to walk on, but he chose the lone school that offered him a scholarship: Eastern Michigan University. The Swoops have consistently underachieved in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in recent history, but the school was a comfortable fit for Walter, whose parents originally hail from Michigan.

   “I was really blessed to have the opportunity to play for them,” he said. “If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

   When he arrived at campus in Ypsilanti, Walter didn’t back off his intensity levels. He continued to push his limits and was eventually rewarded with sole ownership of school records in receptions (211), receiving yards (2,838), and touchdown catches (20). Walter’s devoted work ethic and acute attention to detail were the separating factors between him and other mediocre MAC receivers.

   “Focusing on a lot of the little details that not a lot of players do…it means a lot to the team and the coaches,” Walter explained.

   Throughout high school and college, Walter was always the clear-cut, number-one option. It was known that Walter would see a majority of targets, and his stats would be attractive. However, even Walter knew that the NFL would produce a bit of a change. Competition would be stiffer, and playing time would be harder to come by. But before all that panic was the worry of finding a team.

   In the 2003 NFL Draft, rounds went by as Walter anxiously waited for a phone call.

   “It was very unsettling…after a few rounds go by you start thinking, ‘Man I might not end up being drafted,’” said an honest Walter.

   Yet, all fear was thrown aside when the New York Giants called in the seventh round, with the 255th overall pick and selected the strong wide receiver from Eastern Michigan. Walter remained in New York for all but one year before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. Walter spent three seasons in Cincinnati behind great receivers like Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh. Again, Walter refused to complain. He used the established veterans on the team as resources to help him hone his craft. Walter did what he was told, excelled on special teams, and started to make a name for himself.

   All the years of following strict orders from coaches, putting in extra hours of conditioning, and sitting in film studies watching opponents paid off  in 2006, when Walter signed as a restricted free agent with the Houston Texans. The Libertyville grad excelled in Houston, especially after becoming the top wideout during Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson’s injury in 2008. Walter’s most productive season came that year, where he had 60 receptions for 899 yards and 8 touchdowns. Walter was finally achieving another goal of making a large name for himself in the NFL. Alas, after many productive seasons in Houston, Walter was released in 2012 following last season. In terms of business, the move to release the aging wide receiver seemed illogical, as it left Andre Johnson as the only proven wide receiver on the team. However, it saved the team $2.5 million in cap space, and paved the way for rookie wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

   “Any time you create relationships with your teammates, your coaches, it’s tough. But I’ve been around for a while, I know the aspect of the business,” voiced Walter about his release from Houston.

   Walter will now look to make an impact with his new team: the Tennessee Titans. Walter looks to build upon what has made him so successful throughout his career for his new team. Although he has been sidelined with a back injury, Walter is hopeful he’ll be back on the field soon.

   Kevin Walter did what few have done. He made it to the most elite level of the sport that so many have failed to reach. Not only has he made it, but he has excelled. He put maximum effort into every step of the journey, and is now able to say he’s an NFL wide receiver. However, he hasn’t forgotten his roots.

   “From playing football at Brainerd, walking over to the main building, I remember it like it was yesterday,” stated a reminiscent Walter. “Time flies by quickly, and I’m very blessed I had the chance to go to Libertyville.”

   Walter will forever be remembered as the skateboarder-turned-football player who went on to a wildly successful football career. His everlasting impact on Libertyville High School will always be felt, as a role model who proved that hard work and determination pay off. Nonetheless, the most important thing to do, according to Walter, is to remember why you’re playing the game: “It’s just a game. The most important thing even up to this day is just to have fun.”