Deone Walker is a force to be reckoned with (2024)

In football, especially in the SEC, everything begins and ends in the trenches. Luckily, the Kentucky Wildcats should have one of the best defensive units in the country, and it all starts up front.

Arguably the most important player on the defensive line is the anchor — Deone Walker — who will once again look to wreak havoc in the backfield all season long.

Deone Walker

• Position: Defensive Tackle
• Class: Junior
• Measurements: 6-6, 348 lbs.
• Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
• School: Cass Tech
• High School Recruit Rankings: No. 216 nationally, No. 28 DL via 247 Sports

The former offensive tackle prospect was a consensus four-star recruit out of high school. He was a massive recruiting win for the Cats as he chose Kentucky over offers from the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, LSU Tigers, Michigan Wolverines, and just about every other college football program in America.

His recruitment didn’t lack for drama as it was unclear if he’d choose the Cats or the Wolverines, but in the end, Walker spurned his hometown school and headed to Lexington.

The dual-sport athlete (he played center on the basketball team) was a three-year starter and letter-winner at Cass Tech in Detroit. He also played offensive tackle as a senior and he was ranked highly as a recruit for both offensive and defensive line.

After totaling 43 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and six sacks in just seven games during his senior season, he was named to the Detroit Free Press All-State Dream Team and was First-Team All-State.

While he didn’t start from the jump, Walker made his impact felt very quickly. He had a monster performance and hellacious hit against the Florida Gators, which earned him a starting spot in the following game, just the third game into his young career.

Walker played in all 13 games, earning a starting spot in the final 11 games. On the year, he totaled 40 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

His play earned him the first of several honors in his young career. He was named a True Freshman All-American (On3.com), College All-True Freshman Team (PFF), First-team Freshman All-American (CFN), HM All-American (Phil Steele), All-SEC Freshman Team (Coaches), All-SEC Second Team (PFF), and All-SEC Second Team (Phil Steele). He was also a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist, as well as a Midseason True Freshman All-American (The Athletic, 247 Sports, On3.com) and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week (11/28).

Heading into his sophom*ore campaign, the hype was real. Walker was named Preseason All-SEC Second Team by Athlon Sports and was one of PFF’s highest-graded returning defensive tackles in the SEC. He was also named one of seven permanent season team captains.

Walker lived up to the hype as a force to be reckoned with during his sophom*ore year. He started in every game, including 24 straight dating back to the season prior. Despite battling frequent double teams (and sometimes triple teams), he led the team in tackles for loss (12.5), quarterback sacks (7.5), and quarterback hurries (8) in 2023. His 7.5 sacks ranked eighth in the SEC. He finished with 55 total tackles, and he also added two pass breakups, one of which was my personal favorite last season.

The big man accumulated a career-high nine tackles at South Carolina, including two TFLs and a sack. He also totaled a career-high four TFLs in the Missouri game—tied for the third-most TFLs in a game in school history and the most since Josh Allen had four vs. South Carolina in 2018.

When it was all said and done, Walker was named Third-team All-American (CFN), Fourth team All-American (Phil Steele), First Team All-SEC (AP, Phil Steele, PFF), Second Team All-SEC Defense (Coaches), as well as being added to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, the Bronko Nagurski Watch List, and the Outland Trophy Watch List.

It’s safe to say the noise has gotten louder than last preseason. Walker has shown that he’s one of the elites of college football and has become widely expected to be a First Round NFL Draft pick next April.

He’s already been tabbed to the Preseason SEC Media Days Second-Team Defense and Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Second-Team Defense. Walker was also named Preseason Second Team All-American and First Team All-SEC by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports. Finally, Walked has additionally been tabbed as a Preseason Walter Camp All-American, the nation’s oldest college football All-America team.

Walker is arguably the best defensive lineman in the entire country. Now, he looks to build on his impressive freshman and sophom*ore campaigns as he’ll anchor the defense heading into his junior season.

The numbers might not get much better, as we can expect even more double and triple teams, but I have no doubt that Walker will make his presence felt.

With the potential to go top-five and possibly even No. 1 overall, and comparisons to the likes of Jordan Davis, Chris Jones, Dexter Lawrence, I have a strong feeling that this will be big Deone’s last season in Lexington before heading to the NFL Draft.

So, enjoy this monster while you can, BBN.

Go Cats!

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