Mark Stoops wants to see Deone Walker take another step in 2024

There’s likely not a player or prospect better for Kentucky at this point than DL Deone Walker. That doesn’t mean he can’t get even better, though, with the Wildcats wanting even more from their massive star on the interior.

Mark Stoops spoke about Walker’s development during his press conference at Kentucky’s media day on Friday. He explained that the program wants Walker to continue to improve, which hasn’t been an issue with what he has already been putting into the offseason overall.

“Yeah, just Deone? I just want him to continue to progress,” said Stoops. “He certainly has. I think he’ll be the first one to tell you. He’s working really hard just physically on his body. He’s working hard to continue to be a strong leader for us and make a difference on and off the field.”

Kentucky clearly wants him to keep progressing in his game because of what he is already. Walker the kind of player that you don’t come across just whenever considering his movement and production for a defensive lineman listed at 6’6 and 345 pounds.

“He’s very disruptive obviously – the length that he has, the way he plays,” said Stoops. “He’s a unique individual. That’s for sure. There’s not too many guys playing that look like him and that have that kind of size, speed, and the mobility that he has. He’s a very explosive guy for his size.”

Walker is entering his junior year after a pair already in the bluegrass. He has appeared in 26 games as an underclassman with 25 of those being starts for Kentucky’s defense. In that time, he posted 95 tackles, 17 being for loss, and 8.5 sacks with four deflections and a forced fumble. That includes 55 tackles with a team-high for in loss at 12.5 and for sacks at 7.5 sacks last fall.

Walker has received several all-freshman, all-conference, and All American honors to this point. That doesn’t include being a permanent team captain last year. He now enters this season on many preseason votes and watchlists with what the expectations are for him.

Walker has a chance to be even more dominant with what’s all available to him. It’s just about continuing to reach for it in his third, and potentially final, collegiate season in Lexington.

“Just want to see him take another step,” said Stoops.