Anthony Walker Jr., LB, Northwestern: 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report
2017 NFL Draft: Scouting report for former Northwestern Wildcats linebacker and current 2017 NFL Draft prospect Anthony Walker Jr…
To play football at Northwestern, one must have brains and obviously, the talent to compete in the Big Ten Conference. Walker not only has the brains and the ability to compete in that conference but he possesses the ability to dominate it.
He was a member of the first-team All-Big Ten squad as well as a third-team AP All-American in 2015. He regressed slightly to the All-Big Ten second-team in 2016 but if that’s a step down, that’s pretty dang good.
Measurables
Height: 6’1″
Arm Length: 30 3/8″
Weight: 238 lbs
Hands: 9 1/2″
Strengths
He’s got wheels for a linebacker. Walker showcased his speed in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, clocking in at 4.65 seconds. He has rare speed to deny the edge to runners seeking open field.
Walker has outstanding instincts. His eyes jolt back and forth between the quarterback and any offensive player coming into his range. He’s very aware of his surroundings and no receiver escapes his peripheral vision.
Leadership skills are second to none. As mentioned earlier, he’s a very bright kid with a tireless work ethic. He is said to be an outstanding teammate and a proven leader.
The guy just wants to tackle everyone. He loves to snuff out plays around the line of scrimmage but will also use his speed as a weapon to make tackles down the field. He’s very difficult to block and will make blockers whiff if they target his upper body.
Weaknesses
Big and fast are great attributes individually except when combined into a downhill runner. Walker’s body is stiff as a board when he is running full-throttle and he has difficulty redirecting. As a result, he misses more tackles than desired.
His hands lag behind his feet when he meets a blocker head-on. Blockers can get a read on position based on movement in the lower half of defenders and throw their hands out in anticipation. The resulting angle blocks can take Walker out of plays all too easily.
Walker isn’t the best guy to take on a blocker. He’s strong but he’s not terribly athletic aside from his gifted speed for his size. He’ll have trouble getting around the big bodies up front in the NFL.
Final Thoughts
Nobody can question his physical gifts, work ethic or leadership ability. He showcased all of those things throughout his time at Northwestern. However, he’s an inconsistent tackler who can be rerouted a bit too easily.
There’s no doubt that he will tirelessly work on his footwork and figure out how to coordinate his hands with his feet. At the moment, though, he’s a late round pick with the upside to one day earn a starting spot.