If you’ve been around Colorado football long enough, you know that “culture” means something around here. It’s usually the difference between teams that grind out wins in November and those that fold and can't finish well.
And for defensive end Arden Walker, the biggest change he’s seen heading into his third season in Boulder isn’t something you’ll see right away.
It’s what’s happening behind closed doors.
“The biggest change to me personally, besides football, has been the closeness of the team,” Walker said last week during CU’s Fall Sports Media Day. “Guys are hanging out more, we’re on the same page, and we can hold each other accountable without the moans and groans.”
That last part matters. In football, accountability can be a fine line—you want teammates who will call each other out when needed, but you don’t want a locker room divided. Walker says they’ve crossed that hurdle.
Less ego, more winning
Walker made it very clear: this group is more about results.
“I think guys are putting their pride aside enough for us to just get the job done,” he said. “We all have the same common goal, which is to win.”
That’s a subtle but important shift. Last year’s Buffs had star power, no question. They could rush the passer and hit explosive plays. But too often, they lacked cohesion to dominate.
If Walker’s right and this year’s team is truly moving in lockstep, it could be the difference between a 6-6 season and a legitimate Big 12 title appearance.
A Buff through and through
Walker’s voice carries weight because Colorado isn’t just his school—it’s his family legacy. His dad, Arthur Walker, played defensive tackle here during CU’s rise in the late 1980s.
“Black and gold runs in my veins,” he said. “My dad’s been coaching me my whole life, and now I get to take what he’s taught me and lead my guys. Being back in my home state, playing for Colorado—you can’t really beat it.”
When your leaders feel that connection to the jersey, it has a way of resonating through the locker room. Walker’s here to win where it matters most to him.
Why this matters on the field
Statistically, the Buffs’ defense was a mixed bag last year. They led the Big 12 in sacks (39) but also gave up their share of chunk plays. Walker had 4.5 of those sacks himself, and with NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp now coaching the pass rush, the expectation is even higher.
Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston and Sapp will lean on Walker to be both a disruptor and a leader. If the communication and chemistry are truly as improved as Walker says, it could mean more disciplined play without losing that aggressive edge.
The tools are there. The talent is there. Now, Walker believes the togetherness is there too.
The bottom line
Culture doesn’t win games on its own—execution still matters. But when your best players buy in, when they’re willing to push each other and drop the ego, you give yourself a chance.
Walker already knows what the locker room needs to looks like. That’s been the mindset this summer.
“Winning is on our mind this year,” he said.
If that mindset holds through the grind of this season, the Buffs are going to be a real problem in the Big 12.
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