Watch Deone Walker Cook at Kentucky Football Spring Practice

This spring I picked up a new hobby. It’s watching Deone Walker play football.

Kentucky’s sophomore defensive lineman does things we’re not used to seeing on a football field. I marvel every time I watch the big man get off the line of scrimmage. It actually could become an occupational hazard this fall. I won’t be able to watch the entire defense, devoting all of my attention to No. 0.

We’ve seen big guys wear Kentucky blue before. We’ve never seen a 6-foot-6, 350-pounder with moves like Walker. People his size shouldn’t do the things he’s able to do.

The KyWildcatsTV crew mic’d up Walker during a spring practice. In one pass rush set, poor Paul Rodriguez didn’t stand a chance. The swim move was executed to perfection. As he told Devin Leary shortly after, the Kentucky quarterback is lucky it was not a game or he would have been toast.

In addition to his play on the field, we get to see more of Walker’s personality with the team. A quiet giant, Deone Walker is slowly learning how to be more charismatic in front of the media. At practice he’s jovial, dancing in-between reps and instructing cameramen where to focus their lens during individual drills. At one point he acted like he was going to spray an assistant with his water bottle. “I just wanted him to know that I could.”

.@deonewalker0 mic'd up at #spring practice. pic.twitter.com/dHfVhCHR92

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) April 13, 2023

Deone Walker Focused on Improving Endurance in the Trenches

Deone Walker was one of three true freshman selected to the AP’s All-SEC team. The best is yet to come.

This offseason he’s taking his conditioning to the next level. On Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays he is working out twice a day. In-between all of that on Tuesdays and Thursdays he’s boxing and running the curve treadmill. He also spent time working out with the defensive backs during individual drills while wearing wide receiver cleats.

“Last year when I first got here, it was over. Three or four plays and I’m done. Now I can do three or four racks (downs) and still be good,” he said on Behind Kentucky Football.

In addition to playing more snaps, he’s playing more positions. In order to utilize all of his skills, Brad White is teaching him how to line up all across the Kentucky defensive line.

“I’m learning every position on the defensive line,” said Deone Walker. “He’s got me playing some field end, nose tackle, the boundary tackle. I’m expanding my craft, learning new moves, getting my endurance up, getting my weight down and keeping my pads down.”

Watching Deone Walker play football this fall is going to be a lot of fun. Prepare accordingly, BBN.