Vince Marrow believes Deone Walker was the best defensive tackle in the NFL draft. (Vicky Graff Photo)
When Vince Marrow was able to go into Michigan and help convince highly-rated lineman Deone Walker to sign with Kentucky it stunned many.
Marrow offered Walker a chance to play in the defensive line while many of the elite schools recruiting Walker wanted him to start on the offensive side in college. Walker believed UK defensive line coach Anwar Stewart could help develop his skills to make him a NFL defensive lineman.
That belief came true Saturday when the Buffalo Bills traded up to take Walker in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. No, it was not nearly as high as Walker had been predicted to go before the 2024 season started but he’s obviously going to a team that wants him and believes he can be a productive NFL player.
Marrow was surprised it took 109 picks before Walker was picked but also believes the UK defensive lineman will validate just how good he is with the Bills.
Buffalo officials told Marrow that they thought Walker was the “steal of the draft” and Marrow agrees because he knows the defensive lineman played through injuries last season.
The Bills took Kentucky defensive back Maxwell Hairston in the first round and then chose South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders in round two which surprised Marrow.
“After Max got drafted, the one guy for the Bills who loved Deone — I was texting Deone’s mom, I said, ‘I think Deone is going to go to Buffalo, maybe second or third round, because I know they’re gonna draft a defensive tackle.’” Marrow told me and Anthony White, a former UK all-SEC running back, on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk.
“Deone texts me — I’m still in Milwaukee — he puts ‘(LOL), they lied. They took the kid from South Carolina in the second round.’ I said, ‘Wow, okay, maybe not. Then the same guy Saturday morning, he texted me as I was getting on the plane. He said, ‘How’s big fella holding up?’ I said, ‘He’s doing good.’”
The Buffalo contact asked Marrow to send him Walker’s number and the UK recruiting coordinator/NFL liaison thought he was going to text Walker “some words of encouragement or something.”
By the time Marrow’s flight landed, the Bills had moved up in the draft to select Walker, who played with a back injury most of the 2024 season that most did not know about until Walker made it public at UK’s Pro Day.
Walker once let his weight get too high and occasionally was criticized for not playing with maximum effort every play. The Bills picked UK running back in the 2024 draft and he became a valuable contributor. Now the Bills also have Hairston and Marrow’s Buffalo contact said the Bills believe Davis and Hairston will be there to make sure Walker stays on track.
“He said, ‘We believe he is the steal of the draft.’ I believe that too. I tried to tell guys the young man was hurt. He really, really — if he would have sat out, everybody would be saying, ‘He don’t do this, don’t do that,’” Marrow said.
“Most guys would have sat out a couple of games, just to get his back right. He played because he really did believe in the team and he wanted to be out there with his teammates. But I really do believe he has a chance to be the steal of the draft. I really believe that.”
Marrow recalled when Mississippi State’s Chris Jones was picked in the second round of the 2016 draft after being projected to go higher.
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Jones in the second round with the 37th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Jones was the fifth defensive tackle drafted in 2016. Now he’s a three-time Super Bowl champion and a six-time Pro Bowler.
“He went late second, and you see what he’s been doing,” Marrow said on Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “I think Deone has a chance to do that.”
Marrow said Walker is “very motivated” and ranked as a top 10 or top 15 pick after his sophomore season before his back injury hampered his production last season.
“When you play sports and your back or hamstring is really bothering you, it can really hurt your performance, especially at the position he plays. He needs all of his lower extremities,” Marrow said. “I’m just telling you, this young man’s going to be the steal of the draft.”
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Marrow said he knows when Walker is healthy, he’s the best defensive tackle in the country.
“Buffalo knows that. That’s why they made that trade,” Marrow said. “I told him, ‘You’re going to a great place.’ I showed him what the guy (from Buffalo) texted me (about being the steal of the draft). He said, ‘One hundred percent, Coach. Just watch.’”
2 Responses
Buffalo might just be my new second favorite team behind Cincinnati. Davis Walker and Hairston all on one team. That should be a fun locker room. Davis can show them the ropes. I honeslty think Walker was the steal in the draft. What killed his draft status more than being injured all year is taking plays off. Owners absolutely hate it when you walk during a live rep or take a play off and Walker is notorious for this but I think alot of the time it was were the offense wouldn’t make any subs and he would be left on the field and he played alot. I think that has alot to do with it.
I hope that’s the case, but he never produced even modest numbers here at Kentucky.