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Wesley Walker explains how Tennessee sold him on transferring to Vols

Screen Shot 2024-05-28 at 9.09.17 AMby:Kaiden Smith•12/21/22•

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(Berl/Getty Images)

Tennessee defensive back Wesley Walker was one of the team’s newer additions this year, transferring to Rocky Top this offseason from Georgia Tech. His presence surely helped the Vols, as they achieved their first 10-win season since 2007 the year he joined the team, and in preparation for their Orange Bowl matchup with Clemson, he explained exactly why he chose the Volunteers.

“Really just you’re coming to play in the SEC, you’re playing against the best of the best so if your dreams and aspirations is to play at the next level then this is literally the level right before the next, the highest you can play at,” Walker said. “So that’s another reason why I wanted to come here.”

The Southeastern conference’s ability to produce NFL talent is hard to deny, as they led all conferences last year, per usual, in NFL Draft picks selected with 65, the Big Ten was the next closest with 48.

Walker also made a return to his home state by choosing Tennessee, attending Ensworth high school in Lewisburg before committing and signing to Georgia Tech. He recorded 95 tackles, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in his three years with the Yellow Jackets before deciding to take his talents to Knoxville.

“The logo you’re playing for, you’ve got the best fan base in the nation, and also the access to the resources we have like facilities, and the trainers, the nutrition, just all the stuff just put here for you to be successful,” Walker said.

This year for the Vols, Walker was a reserve defensive back who made 33 tackles, broke up three passes, and had a sack on the season. He made his first career start for Tennessee in their regular season finale versus Vanderbilt where he recorded a season-high eight tackles.

It will be interesting to see if Walker starts for the Vols in the Orange Bowl following his performance in their last game of the season, and it will be interesting to see if Walker returns to Knoxville next season, as the redshirt junior including this season, has three years of eligibility remaining. The No. 6 ranked Volunteers will take on No. 7 Clemson in the Orange Bowl at 8:00 p.m. ET on December 30 airing on ESPN.