2025 NFL Draft Summer scouting report: Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky (2024)

Andrew Harbaugh

May 24, 2024 4:33 pm CT

Summer is the most pivotal part of scouting for both teams and fans. The idea is to educate yourself on the players who could be selected in next April’s draft and who could play for or against the Vikings.

The latter part is critical to our Summer scouting here on Vikings Wire.

The Minnesota Vikings and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah only have three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft heading into the Summer. More could be acquired through trade or the compensatory variety, but for now, that is all the ammo they have.

The lack of draft picks means this series will focus on the players we are likely to play against or who could cause problems for the team in the future. Every position will be covered so that you, the reader, can be a complete NFL fan as much as you are a Vikings fan. Educating yourself on these prospects is critical to better understanding the offseason as a whole, and we feel we can fill in the gaps.

Player data

Syndication: Florida Times-Union

Deone Walker

Position” Defensive lineman

School: Kentucky

Height: 6-6

Weight: 348 pounds
Year: Third year Junior

Player background

Syndication: Florida Times-Union

4-star recruit according to 247 Sports
Played basketball in high school
First-team All-Freshman in 2022
Second team All-SEC in 2022 and 2023
Team captain

Notable stats heading into the 2024 season

Syndication: The Courier-Journal

Notable PFF numbers

Syndication: The Courier-Journal

81.7 run-defense grade
80.3 pass-rush grade
39 quarterback hurries
29 defensive stops
Four quarterback hits

Player strengths

Sep 10, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive tackle Deone Walker (0) reacts after making a tackle against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Size/Length

When you are listed at 6-6 and 348 pounds, this almost seems like a giveaway, right? In the case of Deone Walker, he not only uses his size and length well but he uses it to make every blocking attempt a battle for the ages. He gives no easy reps to offensive linemen and is constantly winning them. It is not often that people with the size he has either know how to use or move well with it, but Walker is an anomaly.

Power

The power Walke imposes on opposing blockers is almost unheard of for most college football players. Whether it be on the offensive or defensive line, no one has the power of Walker in this draft class. In the Lousiville and Florida games, he was getting held on several plays just for them to be able to handle him, only for him to break through and be able to make a play in the backfield. He handles double-teams well, he overcomes holds, and there is nothing he can’t overpower.

Tackling

My comp for Walker may be a Coconut Crab when it is all said and done. Why would I compare a human of his size to a coconut crab? Because they have the strongest grip strength in the animal kingdom. When Walker can’t fill a running lane or get out to force someone inside, he will extend his free hand while the other maintains leverage and grabs the ball carrier. If he gets a handle on you, there is no escaping his grip, and the whistle will be blown very shortly.

Player summary

Sep 10, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive tackle Deone Walker (0) tackles Florida Gators running back Nay’Quan Wright (5) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Leone Walker isn’t the best player I have watched this Summer, but he is right near the top. His size and physical traits make him impossible to miss on film, and even if he did find a way to blend in, his play separates him from everyone else. He gets double-teamed often and is unfazed by it. Instead, he uses those situations to free up defenders around him or he shows the power to be able to push them back and plug lanes even if he can’t make a play on his own. Testing for him will be very interesting; the 2024 season is big for Kentucky, and Leone Walker could easily work his way into the top pick by next April.