Deone Walker with Randall Cobb at SEC Media Days this year. (UK Athletics Photo)
He may not have dominant numbers on paper but junior defensive tackle Deone Walker is a dominant player for Kentucky and everyone knows it.
Pro Football Focus says Walker, an All-American, leads Kentucky in pressures (11) and quarterback hurries (9) despite being the focus of opposing teams trying to make sure he does not do that. Pro Football Focus currently has him as the 16th pick to Green Bay in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Walker hasn’t been the dominant force many expected in his junior season, posting a 72.3 overall grade. However, that’s still a solid mark, and his rare 6-foot-6, 345-pound frame gives him a higher ceiling than we’ve seen so far,” Trevor Sikkema on PFF.
“The Packers’ defense looks different under coordinator Jeff Hafley, but Walker is an ideal fit for the type of interior defensive lineman they’ve favored in the past.”
Walker’s father, Deone Sr., said it is “impossible” not to think about what might lie ahead for his son after his junior year at UK.
“Anybody you see or talk tto hat is all they talk about,” Walker Sr. said. “Everybody in the neighborhood knows who he is. It is hard not to think about his future because the talk is always there.
“Deone is a real humble kid and says he does not care what people are speculating and tries not to let that get in the way. If you let it get in the way, that is going to affect the way you play. He’s a humble kid and does not walk around with his chest out. The only time you will hear him talk trash is on the football field or basketball court. That’s why you won’t see or hear him talking about the NFL now.”
7 Responses
Once he leaves, there’s going to be a big hole to filled.
Absolutely!
He is like a giant magnet drawing lots of players attention & effort which gives other UK D players a good opportunity to break the the OL & get to the a QB or RB.
His value is so much more than the stats show.
Players like Walker wouldn’t be at UK if it weren’t for Stoops and his staff. Walker stated that if Stoops had went to A&M he wouldn’t have came back this year. Stoops isn’t perfect, but it could and would be A Lot worse without him. After the games I watched yesterday, no coach or team is perfect. Go Cats !
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Exactly. Our team is full of 4* guys. There is more 4* that are starting for Kentucky than ever before. We used to be lucky to have 2 or three 4* kids on the whole team. If you know Kentucky football you know Stoops has elevated the playing field here majorly. We have done better than we have ever done by far. We have 34 4* kids on this team a couple of 5* kids on this team. And 43 kids who were at least 4* in one recruiting service. You can Thank Marrow for that. Which you can thank Stoops for that. No Stoops No Marrow😎
IMO we need ranking system that gives 5* heart.
Matt Elam 5* with no work ethic. Deone Walker 3* with work ethic. I have seen 4* guys ranked higher than 5* in the top 300. Depends on the position. The star ratings are an opinion. Just like the polls.