Ourlads' Profile:
2025 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about JALON WALKER:
Georgia | Hometown: Salisbury, NC | HT: 6010 | WT: 243 | 40 time: N/A | Hand: 1014 | Arm: 3258 | Wing: 7978
Junior entry, one year starter with extensive rotational reps the prior two years. First team All-SEC, first team AP All-America and Butkus Award winner in 2024. Has ideal size and length for an off-the ball linebacker but has been used in multiple roles. He’s a tremendous athlete who was primarily an edge defender his first two years. Moved off-the ball in 2024, he was still used as an on the line outside linebacker along with reps as an overhang player. He’s a work in progress playing a stack linebacker but flashed outstanding skill. Shows strength and powerful hands taking on blocks. Has range in pursuit and can make plays sideline to sideline. Has improved tackling in space from early in the season and shows explosive gather and strike driving through tackles. In zone coverage he’s quick getting into a drop and has shown ability to read the delivery key and react with the ball in the air. In man coverage he has the speed to carry a back or tight end up the field along with agility to match and mirror. Was productive on inside blitzes and flashes pass rush skill on the edge. Shows bend and flex as an edge rusher. He can bull rush into a move and has been effective with hand swipes turning the corner. That said, he’s undersized for the edge and can get stuck on blocks. Off the ball he lacks instincts on inside run fits and can be hesitant triggering downhill. Too often gets upright on an interior lineman’s block and gets tied up. While he’s powerful he needs work on hand usage to stack and shed. In coverage he struggles with route recognition and can get caught out of position. The upside is there but he needs development. Has a high ceiling but the floor is low partially based on the question of where to use him. Possible “Swiss army knife” in the NFL.
2024 Stats: 60 T, 10.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 7 QBH. Draft projection: 1st/2nd round