Deone Walker declares for 2025 NFL Draft

Transfer portal announcements are rolling out left and right as a roster rebuild at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility begins. But all players leaving eligibility on the table will not be playing for another college team in 2025. There will be some players heading to the pros. One of the Kentucky’s best players announced his future plans on Friday evening.

Kentucky star defensive lineman Deone Walker is officially a three-and-done. The former four-star recruit out of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech has entered the 2025 NFL Draft.

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I want to start off by thanking God for this opportunity to let me play the game that I love. I want to thank Coach Stoops and all my coaches from all my years since little league football. I also want to thank all my teammates along the way that I get to call my brothers. Finally, I want to than my mom and dad. They have been there for me through all the good days and the bad days.

To BBN, I want to thank you for all of the great Saturday environments over the last 3 years. I haven’t felt anything but unconditional love from this fanbase and team. I’m so grateful that you let me in with open arms and allowed me to live the dream I’ve had since I was a little kid. I’m proud to be a Wildcat and I know that I made the right choice being here since high school.

Say it with me one last time…Go-Big-Blue.

With that being said, after a lot of prayer and consideration, i have decided to take my talents to the next level and declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Deone Walker

The defensive lineman played 1,800 defensive snaps during his three years on campus. Deone Walker accumulated 132 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and 96 pressures during his career. Walker earned first-team All-SEC honors as a sophomore in 2023.

Expect the Kentucky product to get some first-round consideration during the draft process.

Gerald Mincey declares for the 2025 NFL Draft

Deone Walker was not the only player to announce draft plans. Kentucky tackle Gerald Mincey also went on social media to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up💚🐢 pic.twitter.com/7iaYHvDvef

— G1 (@GeraldMincey) December 6, 2024

The former Florida and Tennessee offensive tackle did not have any years of eligibility remaining. Mincey started seven games for Kentucky at right tackle this season before missing the final five games with an unspecified injury. The two-time SEC transfer played nearly 1,500 offensive snaps during his collegiate career.

However, the last memory of Mincey’s time in Lexington will be him at a Kroger Field concession stand during the blowout loss to rival Louisville to end the season.

Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker

The transfer portal does not officially open until Monday, Dec. 9, but so far we know of 15 players who will be seeking out greener pastures this offseason.

• DL Keeshawn Silver
• DB Avery Stuart
• LB Jayvant Brown
• LS Walker Himebauch
• TE Tanner Lemaster
• TE Khamari Anderson
• TE Jordan Dingle
• OL Courtland Ford
• OL Ben Christman
• DL Tommy Ziesmer
• WR Dane Key
• WR Barion Brown
• WR Anthony Brown-Stephens
• EDGE Tyreese Fearbry
• EDGE Noah Matthews

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. Keep closer tabs on the Cats with our staff-only sticky thread on KSBoard, which will have updates on departures and targets throughout the offseason. Not a KSR+ member? Try it out today.