Dallas, TX -- The 2013 Northeast Conference Defender of the Year, Nicholas Walker, has signed a one-year contract with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. Walker had been selected with the fifth pick of the third round (43rd overall) in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft on January 21st, and impressed the FC Dallas coaching staff throughout their preseason trip to UAE.
 
"I'm not surprised by this new development with Nicholas, as numerous MLS teams had expressed an interest in him," Head Coach Seth Roland said. "He has tremendous athleticism, even at the MLS level, along with an infectious enthusiasm for the game. I know Nick will work very hard to make the most of this new chapter in his soccer career, and FC Dallas is a great new home for him. Oscar Pareja is an outstanding coach, who creates a great environment for his players to develop."
 
Walker, who hails from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is one of the most decorated players in Knights' history. The four-year starter at center back made 68 career starts in 71 games, scored four career goals and was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List as one of the top players in college soccer entering the 2013 season.
 
"I'm really excited to sign with FC Dallas and to be a part of the new era of Coach Oscar Pareja," Walker said. "The guys here are fantastic, and I already feel very much at home. I'm grateful for the door that (FDU head coach) Seth (Roland) opened for me four years ago to come to Fairleigh Dickinson. It was a great environment for me to develop as a soccer player, a student and a person. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life."
 
Walker is a two-time First Team All-NEC selection and a two-time NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region First Team member, with both accolades coming in 2012 and 2013. He was named to the 2012 NEC All-Tournament Team after leading FDU to its seventh conference championship and 19th NCAA Tournament berth. Walker played a critical role in the Knights' trip to the Sweet 16 in the 2012 College Cup, where they won at St. John's and Saint Louis before succumbing in overtime at defending national champion North Carolina.
 
"I like his attitude; I like the whole package," first-year FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja said. "And for me, it's encouraging to see that there are a lot of tools there that can be molded and we can use in the team and probably has a very good project for the future. So, I'm excited to work with someone like Nicholas."?
 
Fans can follow Nicholas' career with FC Dallas at the following websites:
 
http://www.fcdallas.com/
 
http://soccerblog.dallasnews.com/2014/02/get-to-know-fc-dallas-nicholas-walker.html/
 
http://soccerblog.dallasnews.com/2014/02/fc-dallas-third-round-draft-pick-shows-potential.html/?nclick_check=1
 
http://www.socawarriors.net/foreign-based/foreign-based-news/foreign-based-news/13681-fc-dallas-signs-draft-pick-nicholas-walker.html