Colts at Eagles, 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox

INDIANAPOLIS — Darius Leonard thought Anthony Walker was a fifth-year veteran when the two Indianapolis Colts linebackers met.

Walker’s knowledge of the game and emphasis on preparation, as a second-year player, shocked the rookie. The league may have awarded Leonard its most recent AFC Defensive Player of the Week award after his second game, but he is focused on building up his football IQ to match Walker’s. That’s his benchmark, his mentor.

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It’s no wonder Leonard wasn’t surprised to learn Walker once voiced his desire to become a general manager like the Colts’ Chris Ballard.

“That is by far one of the smartest guys on the defense, and just being able to go talk to him about anything helps me out,” said Leonard of the Northwestern University product’s ability to give him that extra bit of confidence. “A lot of times on the sideline before I ask a coach anything I ask Walker. Just trying to hear his reaction and try and get better from him, because as a player you know how to translate it a lot more than sometimes with coaches.”

It’s the role Walker owns now because of a decision he made at the end of the 2017 season. The playing time he’d received during his rookie campaign was limited, both due to injuries and the fact the fifth-round selection wasn’t high enough on the depth chart, but in 2018 he was ready to drop his “observer” role — as he put it — start and become a mentor to others.

He’d paid his dues, and saw no reason to take a backseat any longer.

“I was able to learn from some great guys, Jon Bostic, Sean Spence, all those guys,” Walker, who starts alongside Leonard, said. “Those are vets in the league, so I was able to learn from those guys very, very early and they took me under their wings. I basically had the answers to the test after those guys left.”

Walker, who is fourth on the team with 13 tackles, doesn’t feel a sense of relief about his place on the roster. He won’t until he’s made it through all 16 games healthy. But after he missed time during the preseason because of a groin injury, he will say he’s happy to be on the field with his teammates.

Leonard’s noticed.

“You can just see his eagerness out there, wanting to get to the ball each time,” Leonard said. “Wanting to make a hit on the ball. His attitude toward everything is outstanding and I’m just trying to match his attitude — the way he approaches a lot of things.”

Tuesday night, Leonard was watching film at home when he received a text complete with notes Walker made during his own film study. It’s something Walker tries provide his fellow linebackers each week to help them pick up on keys and learn valuable information about the upcoming opponent.

What it’s not, is practice for Walker’s eventual takeover of Ballard’s job.

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“I’m kind of out of that phase now,” Walker said. “I had that for a little bit but Chris’ job is tough. That’s a tough job. Being a part of the business now for going on my second year it’s a little different. Being inside of it and actually seeing the day-to-day, I think I’m going to leave Chris alone. He can have that for a while.”

Instead, while Walker attempts to help the Colts organization reestablish itself, he’ll also try to learn another aspect of the business from former Colts player David Thornton. Thornton, who also played with the Tennessee Titans, is the team’s director of player engagement.

Walker said he talks to Thornton about the value of offseason growth any chance he gets, and was able to spend four weeks in January working in the NBA as a part of the Miami Heat’s marketing department through an internship. Chris Quinn, an assistant coach with the Heat, served as an assistant basketball coach at Northwestern while Walker played football there and helped facilitate the move.

The internship helped Walker appreciate what goes into game day operations for staff and gave him the opportunity to work with members of the Heat organization who are responsible for setting up community service events.

“There’s nothing better than being around the players and helping guys, being a mentor for those guys and stuff like that,” Walker said.

His professional career is still in its infancy, so Walker doesn’t have a timetable for when he might make the jump, but he will be prepared the moment he makes his decision.

“Every offseason I want to put myself in a position to grow outside of football, whether that’s career-wise or whatever it is,” Walker said. “Just learning. You can do something every offseason.”

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Jordan Guskey on Twitter at @JordanGuskey or email him at jguskey@gannett.com.