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GENERAL REPORT
GRADE: 6.16
Body Structure: Walker has a thick frame with good lower-body muscle definition, very thick thighs and calves, wide hips, thick chest and an outstanding wingspan with very large hands.
Athletic Ability: Walker shows decent quickness off the snap, but is not sudden in his moves. He has good balance and keeps his feet, but struggles when having to move laterally. He flashes enough quickness in the short area to stack, but might be better suited for a one-gap system, as he does not have the agility you look for in a three-tech defensive lineman. He is a short stepper who might get out of control at times, but he plays with a non-stop effort. GRADE: 6.1
Football Sense: Walker needs to do a better job of recognizing blocking schemes. He gets tied up quite a bit in one-on-one battles when he fails to keep his weight down and use his hands inside his frame. He gets caught out of position when he over-commits. He shows a good understanding of the playbook and is a good student, but needs to make good reads at the line, as he sometimes will not react quickly enough due to marginal lateral agility. GRADE: 5.4
Character: Coaches like the quiet kid, saying he is compliant, responsible and has never been a problem off the field. He is close to his teammates and follows rules. He is very serious about pursuing a pro football career and will work hard to improve. GRADE: 6.3
Competitiveness: Walker is a tough, highly competitive player who gives consistent effort and plays with solid intensity. He has enough strength to stack and shed and gets very physical trying to shoot the gaps. He reminds some observers a lot of Baltimore's Kelly Gregg because he realizes -- but is not held back by -- his athletic limitations. GRADE: 6.7
Work Habits: Walker has been called the hardest worker on the team. He motivates others with his work ethic and is a "take charge" type in the trenches. He has very good self motivation, but is limited with his lateral agility and change of direction. He does the little extras to improve and has excellent lower-body strength, but with marginal explosion and lateral movement, he is more of a stay-at-the-line type. GRADE: 6.3
ATHLETIC REPORT
GRADE: 5.84
Explosion/Pursuit: Walker lacks timed speed, but he can generate suddenness off the ball (just in the short area, but enough to shock an offensive lineman). He is quick to gain an edge on a blocker and works his hands hard. He will flash some explosion and gain movement coming off the ball. He has the ability to snatch and stack, but gets his best production working along the line and vs. plays directed at him. GRADE: 5.5
Strength at Point: Walker is a bull on the line. He demands double team coverage and if he stays low in his pads, he's difficult to move out. He has the lower leg drive and powerful anchor to hold ground firmly and is the type that will settle down and fight in the trenches. GRADE: 7.2
Use of Hands: Walker has a punishing punch, but must maintain them inside his frame and keep them active. He does do a lot of short-arming on the move, but can control blockers with his hand strength. When working down the line, he becomes too inconsistent delivering a jolt. He needs to generate more quickness getting his hands into the blocker on the move, but he uses them more efficiently to get underneath to attain inside leverage. GRADE: 6.0
Lateral Pursuit/Effort: While he shows intent, Walker has marginal lateral quickness and ability to work over trash. He still manages to get good separation, despite a lack of a sudden closing burst, but is not the type that will pressure the pocket. He just can't run down plays working down the line of giving chase in the backfield. GRADE: 4.9
Tackling Ability: Walker hunkers down, extends his arms, wraps and secures the ballcarrier on plays directed at him. He seems more comfortable playing the gaps and lining up over the center's head, where his hand punch can generate more power. When he locks on to an opponent, he drives hard with his legs and generates a push to drive the ballcarrier back. Simply put, if he hits you, he will stop you. Playing in the open field, he does not have the quickness, change-of-direction agility nor does he take good angles to face up and hit in the second level. GRADE: 6.3
Run Defense: Walker uses his low center of gravity to leverage and hold ground at the point of attack, where he does a good job of stacking. He keeps his feet free in the short area and has some two-gap potential. When he operates vs. double teams, he struggles to shed and work across blocks when he short arms. GRADE: 6.5
Pass Rush: Walker can get some push, but is not as quick as you like to see him in attempts to get an edge. He will arrive in the backfield with good intent, but gets out of control at times and will miss in space. He is not to be considered a pass rusher, but more of a bull rusher whose success comes when he gets under the blocker's pads and generates a surge through the gap. GRADE: 5.7
Closing on the QB: Walker has a short burst, but will get out of control and miss (had only one pressure). He lacks a variety of moves, relying mostly on his spin. When he is able to break free from the trash, he has enough short-area speed to flush the quarterback out but rarely completes the sack. GRADE-5.4
Instincts/Recognition: Walker lacks a good feel for blocking pressure, but shows aggression taking on the guards and centers. He plays with adequate instincts, and is slow to recognize the play developing, especially blocking schemes and play action. He is best when kept in run containment along the line rather than recognition, reactions and awareness. GRADE: 5.1
Compares To: TANK TYLER, Kansas City -- Walker will work in the trenches and has a good bull rush, but does struggle to recognize blocking schemes and locate the ball on the move. When he stays low in his pads, he shows enough power in the lower body to stack and defeat the one-on-one blocks. There is no question that he plays with good effort and desire, but outside of the short area, his lack of speed prevents him from making plays in long pursuit.
OVERALL GRADE: 5.89
--Report by Dave-Te Thomas
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