FARGO (AP) - Steve Walker was maneuvering through the Fargo Street Fair last week wearing a suit and tie. With NFL training camps starting, it's not the uniform he was hoping to wear at work.

North Dakota State's most prolific passer, a player with 12 school records and a penchant for winning games, is most likely done with football. In a span of a few months, he's gone from throwing footballs to pitching financial strategies to clients.

A financial representative for Foster Klima & Co., his business card now reads: Steven Walker. He and his wife, former Bison basketball player Katie Dahlen, are moving into an apartment with dreams some day of building a house.

"This is home," Steve Walker said. "It's a great place and I'm going to love sticking around."

If Walker is bitter about not getting a tryout, he's not showing it. He admits the football itch may get heavier when the Bison start practice. And game day will "be a whole different world."

Walker led the Bison to a 20-2 record the last two years. He's been a winner at every level from a state championship in high school in Illinois to a conference title and high national rankings at NDSU.

"The results on the field: they are what they are," said Nate Safe, also a business partner with Walker at Foster Klima. "We talk about this back and forth a lot. The NFL goes through a lot of people trying out and they have to have criteria. Obviously, it goes against Steve."

Safe also had pro potential as an offensive lineman at NDSU. Back and knee injuries curtailed that hope.

Walker was curtailed by a lack of physical prowess in NFL testing. His strengths, leadership and intelligence, never got a chance to get off the ground.

His agent, Chris Martin of OTG Sports Management in Evanston, Ill., points to three principle factors: the demise of NFL Europe, a new NFL rule that allows a team to bring in a maximum of 80 players instead of 89, and Walker's "lack of ideal measurables, at least in the pros' eyes."

Martin said the New York Giants showed the most interest in Walker. He also said NFL teams were aware of Walker's clutch play in tough situations.

"He's good from the neck up and makes good decisions and that's what they want in the NFL," Martin said. "The challenge this year was the timing of it. By cutting down to 80 from 89, that cuts down on that extra quarterback or wide receiver that they would bring into camp."

Walker said he doesn't have much interest in trying out for an Arena Football League team. The comments from local fans asking him about pro football are dwindling.

"Now it's more like, 'How is Nick going to do?' " he said.

Junior Nick Mertens is the new starter. NDSU begins practice in two weeks.

Walker, meanwhile, will be putting on another tie.

"He's such a smart kid and so well liked," Martin said. "I'm sure he'll be extremely successful in whatever industry he goes into."