Kentucky Blue Chip Defensive Tackle Deone Walker

There’s a saying in scouting that ‘you have to get the great ones right’ and with that said let’s get right into this evaluation on Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker.

In a word, wow.

Walker looks like a man amongst boys on game film and he takes over any ‘ol time he feels like it.

He’s a dominant force of nature.

I haven’t been this excited about a defensive tackle since the Eagles’ 2023 first-round selection, Jalen Carter.

This mountain of a man looks like a human snowplow out there at times ⎯and instead of snow, Walker is pushing around grown 300+ pound offensive linemen like they’re toys.

It’s impressive.

It was fun to watch.

This is what a top-5 pick in the NFL Draft is supposed to look like. Evaluators are looking for dynamic difference-makers. Game changers. Based on what he’s put on tape so far, he’s one of them.

Tell me more

Walker is a rare combination of size, quickness, and grown man brute power.

He’s an accomplished pass rusher as well ⎯who comes complete with a stocked toolbox of pass-rush moves. This is a real premium to have on the interior of the defensive line in today’s pass-happy NFL.

2023

7.5 sacks

51 pressures

Athleticism

We have to camp out on this one for a minute.

I still can’t get over how well this man moves for his size.

Kentucky plays him all around along the defensive line pre-snap. Sometimes, sometimes even standing up, which is even scarier. I even saw him drop into pass coverage a couple of times. One of those times was a devastating surprise for the intended receiver.

Endurance

Another thing that stood out was his great conditioning.

A lot of times I’ve seen the bigger prospects like this in the defensive line rotation where they play a couple of plays and get out of there to catch their breath, or play a series and then take one or two series off.

Not Walker.

He was on the field a lot and chasing down plays regularly.

Complete 3-down defensive tackle

This prospect is just not interested in pass-rushing accolades either. He’s serious about defending the run much to the chagrin of some of these smaller runningbacks who dared to find out.

Walker held down his area with dominant authority.

In 2023 this big man logged:

• 55 tackles (28 solo)
• 12.5 tackles for loss

Double trouble

Walker draws a lot of attention in the pass-and-run game being a complete three-down defensive lineman.

What I mean by ‘a lot of attention’ is a lot of double teams.

In my notes during my study of every snap Walker took last season, I tallied him drawing 94 double teams in passing situations and 47 on running plays.

One big problem

Everything sounds great, but nobody is perfect and that includes Walker.

While his play is eyebrow-raising and jaw-dropping at times, he also paces himself.

That’s a nice way of saying he has two speeds he plays at:

• Sunday Brunch
• Beast Mode

I’d say it’s 65% Beast Mode and 35% Sunday Brunch.

#0 Deone Walker 6-foot-6, 345 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Summer Grade: First Round (I would select him)

Projected by 74.3% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of August 15, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film evaluated: Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Akron, Vanderbilt, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisville, and Clemson (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic big man with good technique and a decent motor. Violent streak. Long arms. A dominant presence that offenses must account for at all times. Capable of explosive initial quickness. Quick hands. Uses them well. Showed swim, and spin moves. Can bull rush. Convincing head fake. Great balance. Gets moving in a hurry. Accelerates up into the pocket. Above average pocket adjustment. Some stiffness. Allows himself to be handled at times. Helps to control play flow when he’s blocked. Inconsistent shed versus run. Good effort on run defense.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season

1. Number of sacks and pressures?

2. Consistency?

3. Ability to make quick adjustments?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.