His entire life he played running back. That was all he knew. Now, while the rest of his fellow linemates are using the spring to work on fundamentals and hone their skills in preparation for the fall, Jamil Walker is fighting to learn a new position.

Not only is the move a change from offense to defense, it's taking everything Walker knew about football and discarding that knowledge as irrelevant.

"It's a different world down there," Walker said.

Walker made the switch from running back to defensive end last winter during preparation for the Capital One Bowl.

Given the short time interval between altering positions and spring practice, Walker hasn't had a lot of time to hone his skills, let alone fully understand a position completely new to him.

"I'm using this time to become more familiar with certain blocks or certain schemes so that the time summer comes around, I got so long before the season starts to not only see these things and get used to them, but get more familiar with them," Walker said. "It's a process, but it's coming along slowly but surely."

Full of promise coming in as a freshman, Walker was slated to become the centerpiece of the UW backfield after then-senior Anthony Davis left.

Season-ending shoulder surgery put that start on hold.

Enter Brian Calhoun and freshman P.J. Hill in 2005, and Walker, whose development was crawling along at best, fell out of favor.

"The program can't stop for one person, and I definitely wasn't ready," Walker said of his regression on the depth chart. "My inconsistencies led me to believe that I should just step back and let the program evolve."

With a logjam at the running back position, Walker was moved to special teams for all of the 2006 season, a move Walker accepted. Then head coach Bret Bielema offered him a chance to play defensive line.

Walker welcomed the fresh start.

"Coach B. gave me an opportunity to try something new, and I'm enjoying it whether it works out or not," Walker said. "It's fun to put energy into the position; I love it."

Now, for Walker, spring football is about learning the game all over again. Unlike on offense, there aren't set plays or directions a player should run. It's about feel. And Walker is certainly feeling his way through this experience.

"At first he was a guy that had no clue," defensive lineman Jason Chapman said. "He came from the opposite side of the ball, so it's a hard mentality that you have to change, and I feel that he's trying to learn and get better daily by watching film and asking us questions to help him better himself.

"I feel that he's going to gradually come along."

It doesn't hurt to be tutored by the likes of Chapman, Nick Hayden and Matthew Shaughnessy, either.

"Everybody's been helping me out," Walker said. "D-lineman Matt Shaughnessy helps me. He's been in my ear during practices — so I stay by him because he's teaching me a lot. Hayden will sit next to me in the meetings and tell me what he sees.

"I got a lot of help around me."

Whether he has enough time to learn the position remains unclear. Despite all the uncertainty and movement on both the depth chart and side of the ball, Walker has remained steadfast, willing to do whatever it takes to get a degree from UW and perhaps get a chance to play this fall.

Wide receiver Elijah "T.J." Theus took most of the snaps on the second team alongside sophomore Xavier Harris in place of Isaac Anderson. … Both quarterbacks Allan Evridge and Tyler Donovan continued to struggle at times, fumbling ball exchanges, handoffs and throwing into double-coverage. They did, however, find success connecting with Paul Hubbard on several passes for some big-gainers. … Still searching for a new punt returner, Jack Ikegwuonu, Maurice Moore, Niles Brinkley, Luke Swan and Marcus Randle El took reps. Moore fumbled on one of his opportunities and proceeded to do 15 push-ups as punishment. … The entire team had to do 10 sprints after a taunting match turned into an all-out brawl. Punches were thrown and a handful of players, including linebacker Jonathan Casillas, were asked to leave for their involvement in the skirmish. Bielema said he liked the intensity, but wants it to stay within reason.