Travon Walker has high school number retired, gives back with big donation
Former Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker was honored at Upson-Lee High School in Thomaston, Ga. on Friday night with his jersey retired during their spring game, but that was far from the coolest thing that happened.
Walker, who was picked No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 NFL Draft after his three-year career at Georgia was over, donated in total $176,000 to Upson-Lee plus another $44,000 to Georgia Football.
Walker was a three-sport athlete at Upson-Lee playing football and basketball while also running track. He gave back to each of the three programs plus the overall athletic department.
A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Walker was named to the 2019 All-American Bowl. However, he was almost as equally dominant on the basketball court, averaging a double-double on his career (12 points and 11 rebounds). Upson-Lee won two state championships and 75 games in a row.
Walker spent three seasons in Athens. As a freshman, he was named co-winner of the team’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year, playing in 12 of 14 contests and finishing with 15 total stops. That included 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Walker played his best football down the stretch for the Dawgs that season, taking down Auburn quarterback Bo Nix for a 5-yard sack on the Tigers’ final offensive play of the game in November. With the win, Georgia clinched a spot in the SEC Championship Game.
Walker then had a career-best three tackles in the Sugar Bowl win over top-10 Baylor with a sack and a fumble recovery. He was named to the Freshman All-SEC Team for his efforts over the course of the season.
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As a sophomore, Walker saw action in nine of team games. He twice tied his career-high three stops, also having an impressive game against Auburn with two tackles, a forced fumble and a pair of quarterback pressures. Walker did the same thing the very next week with two more quarterback pressures versus Tennessee and twice more in wins over Kentucky and Missouri later in the season.
Walker saved his best for last, starting all 15 games in 2021 and helping Georgia to the program’s first National Championship in over four decades. He had 37 total tackles, second among defensive linemen. His stat line also included six sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 36 quarterback hurries.
Walker logged more playing time than any other Georgia defensive lineman that season. He topped his career-high three tackles in the season-opener against No. 3 Clemson with four stops including a nine-yard sack. He tied that just over a month later against Auburn, also recording five-quarterback hurries, before topping it the next week in a win over Kentucky with five.
Walker recorded sacks in each of Georgia’s College Football Playoff games in 2021 and had a career-best seven quarterback hurries in the title game against Alabama.
After rising up the draft ranks during the pre-draft process, Walker was taken No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He just wrapped up his rookie season in the NFL with the team, totaling 49 tackles including 3.5 sacks. Walker also had an interception in his debut, helping Jacksonville win the AFC South and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
