Darrin Walls Class: Senior Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA High School: Woodland Hills Height / Weight: 6-2 / 190 Position: Cornerback Birthdate: 06/20/1988

CAREER:One of the top defensive players on the Irish roster looks to continue his growth from first two seasons of action ... has appeared in 20 games and started 13 contests in his Notre Dame career ... totaled 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, one interception and two forced fumbles ... joins an experienced group of cornerbacks ... started at left cornerback as a sophomore and was used in nickel situations during freshman season ... rated by Phil Steele as the 15th-best cornerback in the nation for 2009.

2008 (JUNIOR): Was not enrolled in University during fall semester due to personal reasons.

2007 (SOPHOMORE):Recorded the fourth-most playing time on the defense as only Tom Zbikowski, David Bruton and Trevor Laws saw more time on the field ... established career highs in every statistical category ... finished year with 32 tackles (23 solos), 2.5 tackles for a loss, nine passes broken up, one interception and two forced fumbles ... led the team with 10 passes defensed ... appeared in all 12 games and started every game except UCLA ... started for the third time in his career when he opened the season as the starting left cornerback vs. Georgia Tech ... recorded two solo tackles while helping to limit the Yellow Jackets to 45.8 percent pass completion percentage ... lifted the Notre Dame sidelines after returning an interception 73 yards for a touchdown at Penn State ... touchdown was the first of the season for Notre Dame ... in fourth career start recorded two tackles (solo; assist) for the Irish at Michigan (9/15) ... made three tackles (two solo, one assist) vs. Purdue ... recorded two solo tackles and two broken up passes vs. Boston College ... made five tackles (four solo) and had one pass break-up vs. USC ... recorded three tackles, including two for a loss of 17 yards and a forced fumble against Navy ... forced a fumble and broke up a pass vs. Air Force ... made six tackles (two solo; four assists) and a broken up pass vs. Duke ... tallied four tackles and two passes broken up at Stanford ... logged 330:26 of playing time with 68 special-team appearances.

2006 (FRESHMAN): Exciting, young player who was used as both a cornerback and kick returner ... played in eight games during first year and made four tackles on defense ... returned five kickoffs for 84 yards with a long return of 28 yards ... covered All-American Calvin Johnson at Georgia Tech and helped limit him to two receptions for 16 yards in the second half ... returned two kickoffs for 44 yards with a long return of 28 yards against Purdue ... gained 40 yards on three kickoff returns vs. Stanford ... made 24 special-teams appearances and collected 61:16 of playing time.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Graduated from Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. ... second-team defensive back on USA Today prep All-America squad for 2005 ... rated 32nd on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today ... rated 29th on list of top 100 players nationally by Chicago Sun-Times ... first-team All-America defensive back by CSTV ... rated 51st on list of top 100 players in the nation by Dallas Morning News ... rated 25th on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com ... made 22 tackles, 14 of them solo, and one interception as senior in `05 ... rushed 29 times for 235 yards and four TDs in 2005 ... four-year letter-winner who finished with 124 career tackles, 80 of them solo, and 16 interceptions ... helped Woodland Hills Senior High School team in Pittsburgh, Pa., to `05 WPIAL Class 4A state title game where it lost 19-7 to McKeesport ... selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game ... second-team pick as defensive back on Associated Press Pennsylvania all-state team ... picked to All-Class 4A team as defensive back by Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ... named to Tribune-Review Terrific 25 team ... rated 45th on `05 preseason list of top players nationally (and fifth among defensive backs) by The Sporting News ... one of seven cornerbacks on `05 national preseason top 100 list by CBS SportsLine.com ... made 53 tackles and six interceptions and also broke up 30 passes as junior in 2004, while also rushing for 550 yards and 11 TDs, and catching six passes for 230 yards and three TDs ... helped Woodland Hills to WPIAL title as freshman in 2002 ... from same high school that produced Jason Taylor (Miami Dolphin all-pro) ... father Darrin Sr. played basketball at Waynesburg College where he's the school's all-time leading scorer ... born June 20, 1988 ... high school coach was George Novak ... enrolled in College of Arts and Letters, double-majoring in sociology and psychology.