Deone Walker (UK Athletics Photo)
Count South Carolina coach Shane Beamer as a “big” Deone Walker fan.
The Gamecocks play at Kentucky Saturday afternoon and Beamer made it clear on Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference how special the UK junior All-American defensive lineman is.
“There’s a reason people say he’s going to be a top ten pick in the NFL draft. He’s so big. Most big guys are big and just big, this guy is big and twitchy and big and athletic. He’s got the twitch and wiggle to defeat double teams, make himself small if that’s possible and split double teams,” Beamer said.
“He’s good at pass rush there’s no question about it, but where he really scares people and scares us is in the run game. He’s got our respect.
Beamer is saying that even though the 350-pound Walker did not have a tackle in UK’s opening win over Southern Mississippi which did its best to avoid him. The Gamecocks likely will also try to limit the chances he has to make impact plays.
“We’ve got to make sure that we don’t allow him to take over the game,” Beamer said. “That’ll be the key for us. We can’t have too many of those negative plays where he disrupts things, but you also understand that he’s going to make some plays.”
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops did not try to downplay Walker’s impact.
“I mean Deone is certainly a player. As I mentioned with some of their edge guys and Deone internally for us, has that ability to change the outcome of the game,” Stoops said on the SEC call Wednesday. “He can be very disruptive. But he is unique in that the great size that he has he’s very light on his feet.
“Great change of direction. Can play multiple positions even as big as he is. He’s so disruptive for being such a big guy and again being so nimble in certain ways and athletic and twitchy.”
Walker had 55 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 quarterback sacks. That’s why he’s on so many preseason award watch lists.
Beamer coached against Georgia in 2021 when the Bulldogs had three defensive tackles — Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and Jalen Carter — who were all NFL first-round draft picks. Beamer says Walker is like that trio because of his athleticism and twitch.
“He’s got the sheer size, that speaks for itself, but when you add the twitch and the athleticism it adds a whole new element to what you have to prepare for,” Beamer said about Walker.
Stoops was asked where Walker ranked among the best defensive players he’s had at Kentucky.
“We like having him, that’s for sure. As far as rank, it’s hard to compare,” Stoops said. “He’s different position, but (NFL star) Josh Allen was back last week (for the first game). He was arguably one of the greatest players to play at Kentucky. He was the national defensive player of the year, consensus national defensive player of the year. And hopefully Deone will continue to progress toward that.
“Interior player, I think it’s fair to say he’s the best one I’ve had to this point. Interior defensive lineman for sure.”
One Response
Double teaming the great Deone Walker reminds me of when a team double teamed Larry Bird so Larry stood near mid-court and let his teammates play 4 on 3 which was an easy score. I don’t recall how much fin the game he did it, but it was a major part of the game.
Walker requires double teaming at a minimum and that is opening up lanes for other defenders to stop the run (12 carries for 5 yards) and get to the QB.
The value of Walker is more than just his star line.