Best is still to come for “Sundown” Deone Walker

Deone Walker (0) has become an imposing defensive force already for Kentucky. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Vince Marrow says the Kentucky football team has a fitting nickname for 6-6, 330-pound true freshman defensive lineman Deone Walker of Detroit.

“We call him Sundown,” the UK associate head coach said. “When he walks in, the sun goes down.”

He does have that kind of dominating physical presence that made him a four-star recruit and top 250 player nationally in his recruiting class.

Walker has made his presence felt in a “big” way for UK this season. Among all FBS defensive interior players with at least 100 pass rush snaps, Walker ranks second with a 9.41 pass rush grade with Pro Football Focus.

Walker has 17 tackles in seven games and has yet to get his first quarterback sack. But statistics do not measure how disruptive he has been with his pass rush or how he’s forced teams to game plan against him.

Remember it was Walker who had a game-changing play in the win at Florida with UK up by seven points when he got a tackle for loss on a running play to stop the Gators’ potential game-tying drive.

Marrow said UK fans have not seen anything near the best from Walker yet.

“He is young but he is a big dude. As he keeps getting in game shape, this dude has a chance to do something really good,” Marrow said.

The UK associate coach credits UK defensive line coach Anwar Stewart for doing a “great job” with Walker.

“You see Stew starting to play some other young and bringing them along,” Marrow said. “I am also impressed with the way he has Justin (Rogers) anchoring that defensive line. Those guys see what Deone is doing and it pushes them all.”