From owner to coaches to players, the Baltimore Ravens expressed heartbreak over the death of Tray Walker, who died Friday after being critically injured in a dirt bike accident.

Walker was remembered by the Ravens as a promising 23-year-old cornerback who was working hard to live up to his potential. He was also seen as a player who had "a hard shell" at first but quickly became a little brother to many in the locker room.

"Tray was a young man who was full of energy and promise," quarterback Joe Flacco said. "This is very hard to wrap my head around, and I am devastated."

Walker, a fourth-round draft pick in 2015, endured a challenging transition as a rookie, going from Texas Southern to the NFL. He bonded with safety Terrence Brooks, another draft pick who was looking to make an impact after a slow start to his career.

Walker and Brooks shared similar life experiences growing up in Florida. They sat together at every meeting. Walker would drop by Brooks' house, and they would have long talks about the NFL and everyday life. They vowed to stick together as long as they were teammates.

"He was like a little brother to me," Brooks said. "One thing I do know is that Tray will never leave my side. He will be watching over me every step of the way. I see just how precious life is, and I will fully dedicate my season to Tray.”

For some players, it took some time to get to know Walker, who was quiet and reserved in the locker room. Cornerback Jimmy Smith described Walker as having "a hard shell."

"But once you broke through that, you found a person who was learning how to become a man and was so eager to be a great person and professional," Smith said.

Even though Walker didn't get on the field much last season, he made an impression with his attire. Linebacker C.J. Mosley called Walker the best dressed player "by far."

Coaches and players will also remember a smile that defensive backs coach Chris Hewitt said could light up a room.

"Once you got to know him, he was one of the funniest guys," Hewitt said. "Whenever I got angry, he could make me laugh in a tense situation and bring me back to a cooler head. He challenged me as a coach, because he had a thirst for knowledge. And although things didn't always go his way, he was ready for the next battle or challenge that you presented to him."

Walker played only eight snaps on defense for the Ravens. He made one tackle. After the season, he acknowledged that the lack of playing time was frustrating and teammates saw his motivation to improve for the upcoming season.

"I was looking forward to taking that field with him this year, because we both kept up with each others' progress this offseason," Brooks said. "I really felt he was going to have a great year. It hurts my heart that he's not getting the chance to show the world just what type of man and football player he was going to be."