More Preseason Honors for Deone Walker

UK Athletics Photo

The preseason accolades just keep coming for Kentucky All-American defensive lineman Deone Walker — and they should.

Walker and UK junior defensive back Maxwell Hairston were named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List by  the Football Writers Association of America and Charlotte Touchdown Club. The award goes to the nation’s top defensive player.

Center Eli Cox and Walker were named to the  Outland Trophy Watch List that goes to the nation’s top interior lineman.

The 6-6, 350-pound Walker led Kentucky in tackles for loss with 12.5, quarterback sacks with 7.5 and quarterback hurries with eight last season.  He was one of seven team captains.

He has started 24 straight games and set or tied single-game career highs in every category last season — nine tackles at South Carolina, four tackles for loss at Missouri, one sack  at South Carolina, one pass breakup at Georgia and two quarterback hurries against Eastern Kentucky.

Walker earned first-team All-SEC honors from multiple selectors and was a third-team All-America choice by the College Football Network.

Hairston had five interceptions last year, the nation’s fifth best mark. Four came in conference play. His five interceptions tied for fifth-most interceptions in a single season in program history and were the most since Sam Maxwell had six in 2009. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns at Vanderbilt when he was named National Defensive Player of the Week and National Defensive Back of the Week. Hairston ranked eighth in the SEC in passes defended in 2023 with 11.

Cox, a second-team all-SEC pick last year, helped open holes for Ray Davis, who ran for 1,129 yards and 14 touchdowns. Quarterback Devin Leary also had the second-most touchdowns in the SEC (23).