Deone Walker continues to add honors and show why he could anchor UK 2023 defense

Deone Walker started 11 games as a true freshman. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Many wondered if Kentucky freshman defensive lineman Deone Walker might be tempted to transfer after a monstrous freshman season in hopes of either landing a lucrative NIL deal or perhaps joining an annual national contender.

Instead, the 6-6, 300-pound Walker stayed loyal to Kentucky and now should be one of the main anchors of the 2023 defense.

He was named to the Football Writers Association of American (FWAA) Freshman All-America Team this week. He is only UK’s third FWAA Freshman All-American since the award started in 2001 and first since Benny Snell in 2016.

It was a huge recruiting win for Kentucky to sign him out of Detroit. He was expected to be a contributor as a true freshman but ended up making 11 starts and played in every game — something very few true freshman defensive linemen can do in the SEC.

Walker made his presence felt in a “big” way with 40 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, one quarterback sack and once forced fumble.

This was his sixth freshman All-American honor and he was also named to the all-sec freshman team. However, his biggest honors might have been being named to the all-SEC second team by the Associated Press and Pro Football Focus. That meant in the SEC — a grown man’s league as UK associate coach Vince Marrow likes to say — he was regarded as one of the best 50 players in the league.