Deone Walker named Preseason All-American by Associated Press

Another day, another preseason accolade for Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker. Today, the 6’6″ 348 lbs. junior was named Preseason All-American Second Team by the Associated Press, adding to a long list of honors. He is Kentucky’s lone representative on the list and one of ten players from the SEC.

Last season, Walker led Kentucky in tackles for loss (12.5), sacks (7.5; 8th-most in SEC) and quarterback hurries (8). He also had two pass breakups, including one in the win vs. Florida that was intercepted by Kentucky and returned to the Florida 15-yard line to set up a touchdown drive. Walker has started in 24 straight games and set or tied single-game career highs in every category last season.

So far this year, Walker has been named Preseason All-American Second Team by USA Today, Walter Camp, Athlon Sports, and Phil Steele; Preseason All-SEC First Team by the media; and to watch lists for the Lombardi Award, the Outland Trophy, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Chuck Bednarik Award. He is projected to be a first-round NFL draft pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft.

Michigan’s Mason Graham and Notre Dame’s Howard Cross III got first-team honors over Walker and Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams. Not bad company to be in.

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Associated Press All-American Teams

First team offense

• Quarterback — Carson Beck, fifth year, Georgia.
• Running backs — Ollie Gordon II, third year, Oklahoma State; Omarion Hampton, third year, North Carolina.
• Tackles — Will Campbell, third year, LSU; Kelvin Banks Jr., third year, Texas.
• Guards — Donovan Jackson, fourth year, Ohio State; Tate Ratledge, fifth year, Georgia.
• Center — Parker Brailsford, third year, Alabama.
• Tight end — Colston Loveland, third year, Michigan.
• Wide receivers — Luther Burden III, third year, Missouri; Tetairoa McMillan, third year, Arizona; Emeka Egbuka, fourth year, Ohio State.
• All-purpose player — Travis Hunter, third year, Colorado.
• Kicker — Graham Nicholson, fourth year, Alabama.

First team defense

• Edge — James Pearce Jr., third year, Tennessee; Ashton Gillotte, fourth year, Louisville.
• Tackles — Mason Graham, third year, Michigan; Howard Cross III, sixth year, Notre Dame.
• Linebackers — Harold Perkins Jr., third year, LSU; Jay Higgins, fifth year, Iowa; Barrett Carter, fourth year, Clemson.
• Cornerbacks — Will Johnson, third year, Michigan; Denzel Burke, fourth year, Ohio State.
• Safeties — Malaki Starks, third year, Georgia; Caleb Downs, second year, Ohio State.
• Defensive back — Xavier Watts, fifth year, Notre Dame.
• Punter — Alex Mastromanno, fifth year, Florida State.

Second team offense

• Quarterback — Dillon Gabriel, sixth year, Oregon.
• Running backs — TreVeyon Henderson, fourth year, Ohio State; Ashton Jeanty, third year, Boise State
• Tackles — Ajani Cornelius, fifth year, Oregon; Aireontae Ersery, fifth year, Minnesota.
• Guards — Tyler Booker, third year, Alabama; Dylan Fairchild, fourth year, Georgia.
• Center — Cooper Mays, fifth year, Tennessee.
• Tight end — Mitchell Evans, fourth year, Notre Dame.
• Wide receivers — Tez Johnson, fifth year, Oregon; Tre Harris, fifth year, Mississippi; Ricky White III, fifth year, UNLV.
• All-purpose player — Zachariah Branch, second year, Southern California.
• Kicker — Andres Borregales, fourth year, Miami.

Second team defense

• Edge — Nic Scourton, third year, Texas A&M; Abdul Carter, third year, Penn State.
• Tackles — Tyleik Williams, fourth year, Ohio State; Deone Walker, third year, Kentucky.
• Linebackers — Danny Stutsman, fourth year, Oklahoma; Jason Henderson, fourth year, Old Dominion; Nick Martin, fourth year, Oklahoma State.
• Cornerbacks — Benjamin Morrison, third year, Notre Dame; Sebastian Castro, sixth year, Iowa.
• Safeties — Dillon Thieneman, second year, Purdue; Billy Bowman, fourth year, Oklahoma.
• Defensive back — Ricardo Hallman, fourth year, Wisconsin.
• Punter — James Ferguson-Reynolds, third year, Boise State.