The Kansas City Chiefs must emerge from the 2025 NFL Draft with cost-effective linebacker play and an explosive pass rush. Georgia Bulldogs standout Jalon Walker provides both.
Georgia started cross-training Walker at linebacker in 2023, but this offseason, they focused more on strengthening his multi-positional ability.
Walker spent his first two seasons with the Bulldogs as a pass-rushing outside linebacker before transitioning to an off-ball position. His instincts as a linebacker are still developing, but he has all of the physical skills to succeed in the position. Walker is undersized for an edge rusher, which influenced Georgia’s decision to move him off the line of scrimmage. However, the Bulldogs continue to give him lots of snaps at outside linebacker. According to Pro Football Focus, Walker led Georgia in pressures against Kentucky in Week 3 and tied for first place against Clemson in Week 1.
Walker explodes off the line of scrimmage and has the quick footwork to get past offensive tackles on the outside arc or counter inside to gain access to the B-gap. He lacks elite arm length but has decent knockback power in his hands.
Walker’s pass rush moves include club-swims, cross-chops, long-arms, rips, spins, swims, and a few counter moves. He employs his outstanding bend to round the corner on offensive tackles and flatten his rush angle toward the quarterback.
Walker’s speed and persistence in pursuit make him an ideal quarterback spy. He has the speed and range to carry running backs down the field and handle difficult assignments. Walker bailed from his line of scrimmage position against Missouri in 2023 and ran a downfield route alongside the slot receiver. Defensive coordinators desire that kind of range and ability. On Saturday, September 28, at 7:30 p.m., Georgia will face Alabama in an SEC game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Both teams enter Week 4 of the season ranked in the top five of the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Leave a Reply