Another Reason Why Deone Walker is Built Different

Posting the weekly Kentucky football depth chart can get monotonous. That’s why last year I added an inch and ten pounds to Deone Walker‘s measurables each week. By the season’s end, he was a 7-foot-11 Paul Bunyan.

Walker’s size and athleticism are extraordinary. People that big shouldn’t be able to move that well. That is a big reason why he’s such a coveted NFL Draft prospect, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Deone Walker has a motor unlike any player his size. It’s similar to Maxx Crosby. There are plenty of pass rushing specialists in the NFL, but the Raiders’ EDGE doesn’t take any plays off. The same applies to Walker. No. 0 played in 50+ snaps in 11 games last fall. That’s unheard of at his position. He wants to be in the game for every single play, and that’s not just in games.

“He’s a guy that everybody looks up to. He goes about his business the right way,” Mark Stoops said on Monday night’s call-in show. “He’s been here three years and I can’t remember him missing a practice. The only reps he misses are when I take him out. He gets mad if I take him out.

“Sometimes we’re trying to operate, like in the second scrimmage of the year — he’s played a lot of football — we’re trying to work a two-minute drill or something, and he’s so darn disruptive, I literally have to take him out so we can operate the drill. He’ll get mad at me for that because he wants to get better and get his reps. I understand that. You gotta love that about him.”

Deone Walker is a difference-maker because of his drive, yet there’s still room to grow. He’s only in his fifth semester on campus. The next step for the true junior is for the once quiet kid to develop into a leader, something he has taken to heart this offseason.

“He’s a very good leader. As he goes through our program, as he grows within our program, you find your voice more and more and I think he’s doing that. He wants the knowledge, he wants to lead, he wants to do things right, he has a great heart, and he cares about winning. What’s not to love about him? He’s been very loyal to us,” said Stoops.

One Player Walker Can Help in 2024

The No. 0 on Deone’s jersey will serve as a target for opposing offensive lines this fall. He will be the primary point of emphasis on every single scouting report. Protections will slide to his side and he will draw one double team after another.

Despite the double-teams, Deone will still find a way to eat, but he doesn’t have to in order for the defensive line to be successful. All of the attention he draws will give his teammates opportunities to succeed in one-on-one situations.

One player we have not talked about enough in the preseason is Kahlil Saunders. He has exceptional length and burst for his size, and has flashed through his first three seasons. Last year he had two sacks in the opener against Ball State. The Kentucky coaching staff believes he’s due for a breakout season in 2024.

“Kahlil (Sanders) is a guy we have a ton of confidence in,” Stoops said on Monday.

Deone Walker has a different skill set than Josh Allen, but both bring a gravitational pull to the trenches. It’s teeing up the defensive line to be its most disruptive in years.

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