2022 NFL Draft: Georgia DL Travon Walker Is A Unique Prospect
The Georgia Bulldogs have a ton of 2022 NFL Draft prospects to watch, but none are as unique as Travon Walker.
It’s no secret that Georgia will have a major influence on the 2022 NFL Draft. Their defense boasts prospects at every level that can become starters in the NFL. From the defensive line that features Jordan Davis, to linebacker Nakobe Dean, to safety Lewis Cine, the defense is loaded. But, perhaps the most interesting of the prospects is Travon Walker.
Walker was a five star (or four star, depending on the publication) recruit out of the state of Georgia, and was the number two defensive tackle nationally and the 24th overall player in his recruiting class according to 247Sports. He also played in the 2019 All-America game representing the East.
Walker made the All-SEC Freshman team in 2019, where he had 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, and eight pressures. Through six full games, Walker has three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2021. The lack of production can be attributed to the amount of talent around him on that defensive line. So what makes him so unique?
It starts with where Walker can line up. Listed at 6’5″ and 275 pounds, Walker sees most of his snaps at the five-technique, just outside of the tackle’s shoulder. However, he’s played on the interior as well, where he can use his great quickness to win against slower offensive linemen.
Walker is an impressive rusher, with a quick get-off, great change-of-direction skills, and violent and active hands at contact. He can win around the edge with quickness and convert explosion to power at contact to push linemen backwards. His ability to create pressure from multiple alignments opens plenty of doors for him at the next level.
The thing that separates Walker is how fluid he moves in space. Georgia will occasionally drop Walker into coverage, and he has the movement skills to sink quickly and the range to work laterally when asked to do so. He has great eye discipline, and made a great play against Florida last weekend, reading the quarterback’s eyes and using his long arms to close the throwing window and deflect the football, which was eventually intercepted.
There aren’t many defenders in the 2022 NFL Draft with that level of versatility, and certainly no one who primarily rushes the quarterback at 275 pounds. It’s hard to figure out why Travon Walker isn’t getting more hype, but he should be with his extremely unique skill set. There just aren’t players at 275 who can rush the passer from multiple alignments and move in space when dropping into coverage, not to mention possess incredible instincts.