![Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) is sacked by Kentucky Wildcats defensive lineman Deone Walker (0) during the third quarter of an NCAA football matchup in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Clemson Tigers edged the Kentucky Wildcats 38-35. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_120,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/198/01j1q9bsa0b3aqm9qrak.jpg "Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) is sacked by Kentucky Wildcats defensive lineman Deone Walker (0) during the third quarter of an NCAA football matchup in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Clemson Tigers edged the Kentucky Wildcats 38-35. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
Deone Walker is one of the most dominant defensive players in the SEC and is a major reason for the success of Kentucky over the last few years.
Following Freshman First-Team All-American honors in 2022, he was another All-American and All-SEC selection in 2023 -- and a team captain as a sophomore.
Despite being double-teamed frequently, Walker was extremely produtive, finishing with 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks a season ago.
The 6-foot-6 and 348-pound Walker is sneaking up draft boards and is a projected first round selection in some notable mock drafts.
While he will always be the focal point from an offensive line perspective, his skill is so dominant that he can overcome some of the added attention.
Because of that, he has a strong case to be made for SEC Defensive Player of the Year come next year.
"Kentucky has a couple monsters up front for its 3-3-5 look, no player more important than Deone Walker, who might be playing himself into first-round pick status for 2025," 247Sports Brad Crawford wrote. "At 6-foot-6, 350 pounds, he's a mountain of a man in the middle and is bigger than any other defensive player on the roster for the Wildcats."
The one holdup? Potentially Kentucky's succes as a team.
Kentucky has hit a bit of a roadblock following a 10-win season in 2021. It was on the tails of a 10-win season in 2018 and then a 8-win season in 2019.
But, two straight 7-win seasons and bowl game losses have put a damper on some of the recent success from Mark Stoops at Kentucky.
"It would take a dominant season for a player like Walker on a projected seven or eight-win team in the SEC to secure defensive top player honors," Crawford continued. "But he's certainly capable."
Certainly a team with just seven or eight wins will be difficult to defend when putting up player of the year honors, but at the end of the day, it should be an individual award -- not team.
Josh Allen, the last Kentucky player to earn such honors, did so in 2018 -- following the 10-win season. The last four winners have been from Alabama.
In fact, since 2002, SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors have been given to a player whose team had less than nine wins just twice. Coincidentally, they were to two below .500 teams with Eric Berry from Tennessee in 2008 (5-7 overall record) and Patrick Willis from Ole Miss in 2006 (4-8 overall).
Kentucky shouldn't have to worry about a sub 7-win season, but history hasn't been on the side of a barely above .500 team. Walker has the talent, however, so we'll see how this season plays out for both the Wildcats and Walker in what will likely be his final year in Lexington.