Chris Walker couldn’t figure out why his mom was waking him up at 6 a.m. last New Year’s Eve.

Walker’s mom had tragic news. His best friend, Chris Mosby, had died in a car accident earlier in the night. Walker couldn’t believe it.

"I was like, ‘Mom stop playing,’ because Chris couldn’t die because Chris was Superman to me," Walker said. "I didn’t think anything could happen to Chris.

"After that it was just hard. It was just two hours straight of me just crying."

The two played linebacker for Christian Brothers High School in Memphis. Mosby, who had finished his senior season, had committed to play football for Kentucky. Walker is being heavily recruited by most Division I colleges as he enters his senior year.

A team that was close at Christian Brothers, Walker said the news of Mosby’s death hit everyone hard.

"It was hard from the beginning," he said. "A couple weeks after that we started getting together. We had to get over it because Chris would want us to get over it.

"Me personally, I’ll never get over it because that’s like my best friend. We were so close and it was just hard for me to lose one of my best friends."

Walker said when he arrived at Christian Brothers in the ninth grade he sought out Mosby. Having known Mosby since he was 9 years old, Walker said he knew Mosby would be the perfect person to look up to.

"He taught me everything like the techniques and the ways to get off blocks," Walker said. "But it was more of a growing experience and a big brother type thing. He gave me advice on things."

Walker credited Mosby for positioning him to be a high level Division 1 prospect. Without Mosby, Walker said not many people would know who he is.

"Chris had college coaches coming to watch him play and watching him on film and they would see me," Walker said. "He opened up the door for me."

Walker has received scholarship offers from 13 schools, including Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Miami (Fla.) and Memphis. Walker said he has no leader but hopes to narrow down his list after making unofficial visits this summer.

He said he knew he would receive college interest, but not like this.

"Its kind of fun," he said, "but at the same time its rather hectic and you spend a lot of time talking to coaches and texting (text messaging) and all that. It’s fun for me right now and I’m just enjoying the process."

UT coach Phillip Fulmer visited Christian Brothers on May 4. Growing up watching the Vols play on television, Walker said it was a different experience to see Fulmer in person.

"It was kind of an honor to see him at my school trying to recruit me," Walker said. "It was a lot of fun. He tells me a lot how he would love to coach me and everything."

Walker said he has taken notice in recent years of UT’s style of play on defense. It’s a style that he said fits him to a tee.

"They put their playmakers in position to make plays," he said. "That’s right up my alley because I make plays. Put me in position to make them and I’ll make them."

Walker said he plans to visit UT the last week of June.

Walker said he hears many differing opinions on where he should go to school. He said he listens but in the end it will be his call.

"It comes down to the decision I make," he said. "It’s going to be a family decision for me because I want to go to a place where my mom and my sister and my brother can come watch me "

Walker said Memphis’ close proximity is an advantage for the Tigers. He said his friends often remind him of that.

"A lot of people here in town want to see me play at Memphis because they’re like, ‘Well you’re right down at the Liberty Bowl and we can come watch you play.’ That’s always a consideration."

Walker still has another year to play at Christian Brothers. There will be a different feel with Mosby not lining up next to him.

"It’s going to be tough because I’ve gotten spoiled playing beside one of the best linebackers in the country," Walker said. "I knew if I messed up he had my back and he knew if he messed up I had his back."

Walker said Mosby is far from forgotten at Christian Brothers. He said the basketball team breaks every huddle with "C-Mo," Mosby’s nickname, and a picture of Mosby hangs in his old football locker.

"His presence is always going to be there," Walker said. "We’re always going to do things to remember him. But it’s still really tough to get over it now."