When NFL draft scouts watch the Kentucky Wildcats this season, they primarily watch the defensive side of the ball. In particular, they will watch nose tackle Deone Walker. The Kentucky offense struggled mightily this past Saturday in a 31-6 loss to South Carolina. It doesn’t get any easier for the Wildcats as they host #1 Georgia this Saturday.
If Kentucky has a successful season, it will be because of their defense. And it all starts on the defensive line with their man in the middle. Deone Walker is a 6-foot-6 345-pound junior nose tackle. He’s not just massive but also extremely talented.
Mammoth Defensive Tackle
LEXINGTON, KY – AUGUST 31: Kentucky Wildcats defensive tackle Deone Walker (0) in a game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Southern Miss Eagles on August 31, 2024, at Kroger Field in Lexington, KY. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Walker is a phenomenal athlete for his size. People that large should not be as nimble as Walker is. He has a quick first step and despite his size, Walker is an outstanding pass rusher. Walker finished with 55 tackles and 7.5 sacks this past season. Nose tackles rarely get that much tackle and sack production.
Against South Carolina, Walker was double-teamed on just about every play. It was a no-brainer because college interior offensive linemen cannot block Walker one-on-one.
Because of his size, Walker will get a lot of comparisons to former Georgia Bulldog and current Philadelphia Eagle DT Jordan Davis. Both are terrific at finishing plays and have non-stop motors. But Walker is a better athlete and has higher pass-rush upside. Davis went 13th overall in the 2022 draft, but I expect Walker to go higher than that in 2025. Walker is currently #12 on the consensus NFL draft big board.
Other Playmakers
The other two draft prospects to watch on the Kentucky defense are junior CB Maxwell Hairston and LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson. Hairston is a 6-foot-1 186-pound playmaker who led the SEC in interceptions last season. He is currently #70 on the consensus draft big board. Dumas-Johnson is a senior 6-foot-1 245-pound Georgia transfer who is a good all-around LB. He is instinctual, has a high football IQ, and is a mauler in the run game.
Final Thoughts
Saturday will be a test for Walker. Georgia has one of the most talented offensive lines in the country. I expect them to double-team Walker on most plays, just like the Gamecocks did. If Walker can consistently beat these double-teams, Kentucky might be able to keep the game low-scoring. With their offense struggling, it’s their best shot at pulling the upset. Kentucky hosts Georgia this Saturday at 7:30 Eastern on ABC.
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