Kentucky Football Countdown: No. 51 Deone Walker

The Kentucky football season will be here before you know it. Single-game tickets and three-game mini packs are available to purchase now. While you plot which Saturdays you will be spending at Kroger Field this fall, get to know a talented new kid on the block, No. 51 Deone Walker.

About Walker

Despite Steve Clinkscale’s departure in 2021, Kentucky kept its Michigan pipeline open to secure a commitment from the Detroit native over a late push from the Wolverines. Also heavily pursued by Georgia, Alabama and Missouri, Deone Walker was a top 30 defensive line prospect in the 2022 recruiting class and the No. 269 player overall in the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

In addition to playing on both sides of the line of scrimmage in high school, the all-state football star played center for the basketball team. Last fall he tallied 43 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks in only seven games.

Deone Walker Fun Fact

Walker attended the same high school as LB DeAndre Square, perennial powerhouse Cass Tech. He’s also the only person that can make Kiyaunta Goodwin look like a normal-sized human being. Walker is a 6-foot-6, 330-pound athlete. The two All-Americans posed for a photo just before they pledged their allegiance to Kentucky in December.

⁦Twin Towers @deonewalker51⁩ pic.twitter.com/l4QkeXPZcr

— Kiyaunta Goodwin (@K_Goodwin2022) December 14, 2021

2022 Forecast

Similar to the other big boys from Detroit, there’s no rush to get Deone Walker playing time at nose guard. Kentucky’s genius plan to create a rotating Michigan door in the middle of the defensive line is being executed perfectly. Marquan McCall warmed the seat up for Justin Rogers who is holding down the fort while Walker gets acclimated to life in the SEC. Deone Walker will be a dominant force on the Kentucky defensive line in due time.