First Down Kentucky: Deone Walker is Weird in all of the Right Ways

by:Nick Roush•03/28/24•

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In the same way that Deone Walker is a freak for all of the right reasons, he’s also a little weird away from the football field. That’s the only word defensive line coach Anwar Stewart could find to describe the way Walker carries himself around the football facility. Walker doesn’t just run with the defensive lineman. He’s a friend to all, and that makes him one of the best leaders on this Kentucky football team.

“He’s always encouraging guys, pushing guys,” said Stewart. “He’s always around the building, which is great, so that everybody can see him. And Deone, he’s a little weird. He’s around everybody. He hangs out in the equipment room. He’ll hang out in the treatment room or he’ll go in the video room and hang out with people. That’s just the type of guy he is.”

The 6-foot-6, 348-pound future first round pick is unlike any other football player to suit up for Kentucky. Players his size shouldn’t be able to play so many snaps at so many different positions. The most valuable asset to the Kentucky defense, this spring his focus is getting in the best shape possible because the Cats always want him on the field.

“I think we gotta work on his cardio. I think we gotta continue to work on getting his weight down,” Stewart said after Thursday’s spring practice. “Would love to get him down to about 325, continue to get stronger and continue to use his hands.

“The technique at the next level, if you want to be elite, you gotta be a technician and you gotta be mentally tough. Those are the things we’ll continue to work with Deone so that when the season comes, he’s ready to go because he’s a huge part of what we do.”

Nasir Addison Needs to Finish

Nasir Addison was one of the lowest-ranked players in Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class. That’s why some observers were surprised when No. 21 was mixing it up and raising hell on special teams as a true freshman.

He has the athletic tools and the fiery competitiveness to potentially become a starting cornerback for the Cats this fall. We saw him make an outstanding interception in an early spring practice. He finished the play, the primary focus Brad White is preaching to the young cornerback this offseason.

“You play 90% of the play good, you can’t off the gas the last 10%. Finish the play, whether you finish at the top of the route, you strain if the ball’s thrown across, you strain with a couple of burst steps to show you’ve seen the ball thrown,” said White. “A lot of that becomes trained for him and every practice I stress that to him before practice starts and he’s gotten better and better every practice. But it can’t be a step back, because at some point I shouldn’t have to tell you. At some point, you just gotta do it yourself. We’re still progressing to that.”

White added, “When he does play full speed from start to finish, it does look really good.”

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