When several players got together Friday to work out, one of those who was running alongside his teammates was sophomore wide receiver Ryan Walker, who missed the 2010 season with a tear in his right hamstring. Walker said he is taking part in all running and conditioning drills with his teammates.
"I can run full-speed and do all of the quick speed drills," Walker said. "(The hamstring) didn't tear off my butt, so that was good. I didn't need surgery or anything.
Walker said the return to health of his leg has given him "a whole new outlook."
"Coming out to practice at 7 a.m. every morning and just watching — I hated that," he said. "At that point, I would have died just to go through warm-ups."
Walker acknowledged that his enthusiasm in August might be a little different than his level of eagerness after watching from the sidelines for a year.
"Ask me again in August about that," he said, laughing. "But I'm running and working out and I feel good."
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Also working out: linebacker John Bordano, who missed the 2010 season with a toe injury that had him in a walking boot for much of the fall. Bordano said he has no lingering discomfort and is cleared to take part in all drills, and expects to be on the field during spring workouts.