Tigers D-lineman turns best friend’s death into motivation
Memphis lineman Pooda Walker (99) tries to get around his defender during an Aug. 30, 2025, game against Chattanooga. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Pooda Walker planned to take the morning off.
The high school junior wasn’t in the mood to run hills in the sand at 5 a.m.
His friend, Ladarius Clardy, better known as LD, didn’t care. He wasn’t taking no for an answer.
Clardy was like family, so he could enter Walker’s Pensacola, Florida, home with no invitation.
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Frank Bonner II
Frank Bonner is the Memphis Tigers football beat writer. He is originally from Indiana but arrived in Memphis after spending two years in Tulsa, covering Oklahoma State football and basketball. He covered high school sports in Columbus, Indiana for two years before getting his Master’s degree in Sports Journalism at IUPUI. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University.
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