Deone Walker Comparisons Are Unique in Kentucky Football History 

Deone Walker is rare.

Simply stated, he’s a unique player with inimitable traits. A mixture of elite size (6’6, 340), speed, power, attitude, and athletic ability; Walker parlayed those characteristics into a rookie season that resulted in being named a Freshman All-American and All-SEC performer, in addition to other accolades. His 2022 production, coupled with uncommon measurables, provoked me into taking a journey into history to compare Walker’s present and future status to former Wildcat legends. 

I polled ‘my dudes’ to gauge UK historical comparisons for Walker. The responses I received varied and were exceedingly thought-provoking. The goal of my inquisition was to come up with former UK players that are similar to Walker in stature and production, both current and projected. I hope you enjoy this feature and a quick trip down memory lane. 

*My Dudes is a reference to my collection of football-minded friends that I incontestably trust. Some are former players, others are not. I’ve never bought into the theory that being a former college football player enhances one’s ability to analytically examine personnel or scheme. This particular group of gridiron big brains constructs my informational backbone in which I gain knowledge and perspective in order to provide KSR readers with accurate and judicious opinions. 

**It must be noted that this group’s historical scope begins in 1970 and runs through today. 

An obvious comp for many in the group was Oliver Barnett. Ollie was my teammate who affectionately called me “Cousin.” That nickname derived from the fact that I’m kin to the Barnett’s in Perry county, but the pronunciation is different. I was always afraid to tell to Oliver that we weren’t actually related. The first to compare Deone Walker to Oliver Barnett was Donte Key. The former Wildcat linebacker/defensive end is my top reference with all things “Defense” and football. His knowledge of the game is unparalleled. I lean on him often. Donte’s reply was quick and to the point.  

Todd from Nicholasville agreed and referenced that Walker and Barnett are both highly athletic defensive linemen with long arms and quick burst. However, truth is that Walker is two inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than Barnett. The production trajectory is considerable but has yet to be established. None did it better than Barnett from the program’s beginning to his departure to the NFL in 1989. 

Oliver’s program-best 26 career QB sacks was a record that stood from 1989 to 2018. 29 years is an awfully long time to be an all-timer and is an indication of his consistent domination. I’d like to add that Barnett was a one-of-a-kind defender in his day. The BBN had never seen his rare combination of size, speed, aggressiveness, and production. 

Oliver Barnett played his high school football in Louisville. A boxer in his youth, Barnett was and remains to be the nicest human being on earth. But, when he crossed the chalks, Ollie morphed into a quarterback’s worst nightmare.

We had a deal worked out in practice and scrimmages. Back then, QBs didn’t wear the cute little red jerseys and were live bait in practice. Ollie told me early in my career to “go to the turf” when he got close to me in the pocket. He indicated that if I didn’t comply with his request and he had to chase me, then the punishment would be doubly bad. I believed him, so I obviously complied. Scrambling was never an option with 79 over there.

Barnett had to wait far too long to be enshrined in the UK Hall of Fame. UK came to its senses and finally put his name in the rafters in 2013. The UK Hall of Fame……. I don’t get it. Please explain to me why Oliver Barnett had to wait 24 years to be enshrined? I don’t get it. Also, tell me the logic behind Chris Chenault not being in the Hall after recording 482 career tackles? That number ranks in the top 10 in SEC history but apparently doesn’t justify a spot in the UK Hall of Fame. Unbelievably believable. Loyal to a fault, I will always have my teammate’s back. 

I digress. I’m sorry. Anyway, Ollie was a terror on the field and a gentle giant off. However, he was three inches shorter and 30 pounds lighter than Deone Walker. Barnett finished his UK career with 26 QB sacks, 43 tackles for loss, and forced 12 fumbles. All three numbers were program records at the time. In my humble opinion, Ollie is the most underappreciated legend in Kentucky history. Walker will not likely pass Barnett statistically. 

The SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic is my favorite talking head. The former Auburn center is my go-to for all things SEC football. His specialty admirably lies within the trenches. Cole mentioned LSU’s Maason Smith as a potential, current comparison. The sophomore defensive end measures 6’5, 300. That’s an inch shorter and 40 pounds lighter than Walker. Cubelic also mentioned Raekwon Davis as the closest and most accurate size comp for Walker. The former Alabama DL was listed at 6’7, 330. 

Walker (13 games including 11 starts, 40 tackles, 4.5 TFL, five QB hurries, two PBU’s, and a forced fumble) enjoyed a much more productive freshman season than Davis did (four games, four tackles, one TFL, one QB sack). Davis went on to register 175 stops, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 11.5 QB sacks over his four-year career. Of all of Cole’s comps, this one seems to be the most suitable. But, Davis is not a former UK player which breaks from the original question. That was no fault of Cole’s. 

Big Ed from Collier’s Creek initially compared Walker to Bubba McCollum who played for the Cats in the early 70s. A look back indicates that McCullum earned All-SEC and All-American honors. The defensive lineman was listed at 6’0, 250. He was a monster in that era but pales in comparison to the 6’6, 340-pound Walker. Sadly, Bubba passed away on September 5^th, 2005. May he rest in sweet peace. 

David from Atlanta, Jon from Louisville, and Phil from Frankfort were just two of many who mentioned Art Still. But, most added, “different body type and position.” The height is similar but Still played defensive end in the late 70s. Walker is an interior defensive lineman that can align at all three up-front spots. Art Still is 67 years old and looks like he could play in the Wildcats’ season opener. Still earned consensus All-American honors at Kentucky and is a UK Hall of Famer. He was eventually enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. He registered an astounding 327 career tackles. Tackles for loss weren’t a recorded stat until Still’s senior season in 1977. He had 22 that year alone. 22. 

Art Still enjoyed vast success as a Kansas City Chief after being selected as the second overall pick in the 1978 Draft. He eventually entered the team’s Hall of Fame. The Camden, NJ product was like Walker in many ways. Their size and movements were both rare for their era. Still and Walker’s production exceeded early career expectations, which is difficult given that both were national-level prospects. There was no star system in Still’s era, but if there were, he would have certainly been a consensus five-star. Still was listed at 6’7, 254 pounds at Kentucky. That’s one inch taller but nearly eighty pounds lighter than Deone Walker. 

Art Still is one of my football heroes. I greatly miss the talks that we’d have at the now-defunct Governor’s Cup golf outing. We’d talk about all things UK and our passion for adoption. 

Former Wildcat and 10-year NFL veteran Dean Wells threw Georgia’s Jordan Davis out there before mentioning that NO historical Wildcat would be a fair comparison. Our teammate Wes Jackson also couldn’t provide a UK comp but mentioned Louisville’s Ted Washington as a possibility. 

My fellow Depth Chart Podcast mates also chimed in. Former UK OLB Jay Dortch said Terrence Cody, another former Alabama defensive lineman, but no historical UK players having similarities with Walker. Jay went on to say that Cody wasn’t as tall as Walker but had the same weight and freakish athletic traits as Kentucky’s prize rookie. Andy Murray’s assessment was somewhat interesting. The former UK fullback said Dewayne Robertson. 

I must mention that Andy was in a hurry when coming up with that name. Robinson’s body type was quite different. He measured 6’1, 317 pounds but was also a Freshman All-SEC selection. Robinson was picked by the New York Jets with the fourth pick in the first round of the 2003 Draft. Chris from Lexington similarly mentioned Robertson, but said that Walker is a “taller version.” 

Bull from Collier’s Creek said Jerry Blanton, who in 1974 became the first freshman to ever start a game at Kentucky. Blanton was 6’2, 235 pounds. He finished his Kentucky career with an amazing 387 tackles from his defensive line position. Blanton’s tackle production will not be topped by Walker. Another name Bull projected was Jeremy Jarmon. You can listen to Jeremy on the UK Network. He’s like Oliver Barnett in being incredibly nice off the field. 

What Does All This Mean? 

Is it too forward-thinking to imagine that Deone Walker has the potential to become one of the program’s best defensive linemen? You answer that for yourself. Participation is the goal of this exercise. Just remember, I said “potential.” Surpassing Art Still, Jerry Blanton, Oliver Barnett, and others will take a great deal of work, health, and fortune. There are other UK great DL that are not mentioned in this article that played before the 1970 benchmark. I do not mean disrespect to the legends of yesteryear. 

Deone Walker is likely a three-year player which means he could depart for the NFL following his junior season. Again, I use the term “likely.” Nothing is guaranteed, especially in today’s NIL-driven corporation formerly known as college football. What are your parameters for naming the program’s best defensive lineman in history? Numbers? NFL Draft status? Domination of games and seasons? Size? Social media followers? 

In particular, supplanting Barnett’s 26 career sacks and 43 tackles for loss is a tall task for any defender to accomplish. Walker will likely only have three seasons to do so. How about Art Still’s 22 TFLs in a season? Not likely, darn near impossible. Jerry Blanton’s 387 tackles? Walker won’t play enough games to reach that number. Again, that’s a question for you to answer. Your opinion is valued and the only one that matters. The game has greatly changed over the years. Defensive linemen’s goals have remained somewhat constant; wreak havoc on the opponent and tackle everything wearing an unfamiliar jersey. 

I have never seen a UK defensive lineman quite like Deone Walker. His size and specific football abilities are rare for the position(s) he plays. It would take a nearly impossible, Herculean effort to pass by Wildcat DL legends in the stat column. But again, are numbers your guiding requisite? 

Rare is a term that is one of the highest compliments a football player can receive. That description fits Oliver Barnett, Art Still, and Deone Walker. I’m not comfortable comparing Walker to those two quite yet. Maybe in a couple of years, but not yet. 

One of the most admirable traits that Deone Walker possesses is his high motor and effort. His ‘want to’ is as sizeable as his height and weight. Those qualities are my favorite aspects of his game. Players that are that uniquely built and skilled rarely perform with the same energy as a fourth-team walk-on trying to earn a spot on special teams. Understandably and at times, Walker appeared fatigued deep in drives or late in the fourth quarter. Conditioning is something that he must take seriously moving forward. I have no doubt that he will. He’s a great kid. 

Thus, my historical comp for Deone Walker is Deone Walker. Health, fortune, and continued development will factor in his place in Wildcat lore, but the Cass Tech (MI) alum turned All-American is undeniably a special and unique football player. Enjoy him while you can. Respect.