:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58116651/WalkerHumeOCSC.0.jpg)
Walker Hume was a surprise late-season addition to Orange County SC in 2017. The center back, a rookie with FC Dallas, was sent on what was first a short-term loan to the USL side, before remaining with the team for the remainder of the season.
Hume was drafted out of North Carolina by Dallas, where he played alongside twin brother Tucker, a forward who was signed by Ottawa Fury. With the likes of Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman manning the center of defense for the defending Supporters’ Shield winners, Hume was not expected to play much this year, if at all, but given Oscar Pareja’s reputation for trusting young and inexperienced players who made the grade, it was not inconceivable Hume might get a look.
He did get a bit of playing time, making all of two appearances for FCD, but with the team’s slide over the second half of the season, one of the most shocking examples of Murphy’s Law seen in MLS in some time, Hume was firmly buried on the depth chart, and he made a temporary move to OC.
Suffice it to say, his impact was immediate. Hume came into a defense that desperately needed central defenders, a spot that was rather thin all season, but with the knee injury to Salomon Wbias, the situation had reached a breaking point. Into that stepped the 6-foot-5 Hume, and he basically never left the lineup again.
Here were Hume’s statistics for Orange County in 2017:
Walker Hume 2017 OCSC statistics
| 2017 | Games Played | Games Started | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Shots | SOG | Yellow Cards | Red Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Games Played | Games Started | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Shots | SOG | Yellow Cards | Red Cards |
| USL Regular Season | 9 | 9 | 810 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| U.S. Open Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 9 | 810 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probably the question moving forward is where Hume’s level is at this point in his career. I think he is capable of being a dominant center back at USL level, and with him out of contract right now, there’s a very good chance he’ll end up signing with a USL team this offseason. It’s also possible he’ll get a shot with another MLS team, or even make his way back to Dallas, as they sometimes cut players and then bring them back in training camp or during the season.
I think with a solid partner beside him, Hume would be great for Orange County. I was impressed with what I saw, and at 24 he still has plenty of career ahead of him. It’s unclear if that’s in the stars, but Walker Hume’s nine games in 2017 with the team made quite the impression.
What do you think? Leave a comment below!