It was difficult for Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning to contain his excitement when talking about junior defensive end Travon Walker.
When you consider Walker’s athleticism and now opportunity as a first-time starter, it’s easy to understand why Lanning would be gitty about maximizing Walker’s abilities in 2021.
“A lot of TFLs, a lot of plays in the backfield,” Lanning said on his expectations for Walker. I want to see this guy running sideline to sideline. I have high expectations for Travon. His athleticism is really unique. He’s a guy that we’re always trying to figure out how can we incorporate in our scheme.”
Walker’s physical gifts have been apparent from the moment he stepped on the field as a freshman in 2019. That first season, Kirby Smart estimated Walker was one of Georgia’s 20 best players. At 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, the former three-sport high school star has flashed his athleticism in a number of minor roles, whether that be as a part of Georgia’s third-down pass rush package or on the kickoff team.
Now, he’s moving into a starring role. With Malik Herring off to the NFL, Walker will start at the defensive end spot in Georgia. He’ll be asked to do much more than Herring was.
Georgia is looking for Walker to be a Michael B. Jordan-type presence on its 2021 defense.
“We’re asking him to do more this year,” Lanning said. “We’re asking him to do more this year than we’ve ever done, and I think Travon really bought into that and it’s showing up daily on the practice field.”
Related: Travon Walker knows Georgia needs a big year from him and he’s ready for it
The Bulldogs aren’t just counting on Walker to show up as a run-stopper. There have been constant mentions of Walker playing a bigger role in Georgia’s pass-rushing packages. To this point in his career, Walker has just 3.5 sacks in his Georgia career.
With Georgia having to replace the SEC’s leading pass rusher from 2020 in Azeez Ojulari, the Bulldogs are going to look for other players to pick up the slack. Lanning thinks the defensive line is primed to do just that.
Walker is perhaps the single biggest reason why that is the case.
“I expect really big things to show up with him, and I’m excited about some of the young guys who have kind of come in the fold,” Lanning said. “I think we will continue to think defensively about where we create pressure, where we create those one-on-ones. Maybe that means there’s going to be some more one-on-ones on the inside, rather than out on the edge.”
Related: Devonte Wyatt earns praise as Georgia football’s ‘biggest’ freak
As a unit, Georgia’s defensive line had just 4.0 sacks last season. The Bulldogs are hoping Walker can equal that number on his own in the 2021 season.
To go along with Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and Jalen Carter, the defensive line is perhaps Georgia’s deepest and best position group on the team. No player perhaps better emphasizes that point than Walker.
Expectations are high for a number of players on Georgia’s 2021 team. that tends to be the case when you have a top-5 team.
But the way Lanning, Smart and others have talked about the junior from Thomaston, Ga., there’s a real excitement to sit back and enjoy the performance Walker is about to put on.
More Georgia football stories from around DawgNation
- ESPN names Georgia football transfers Arik Gilbert, Derion Kendrick top newcomers
- ESPN expert: Georgia RB Kendall Milton top SEC Offensive Breakout Player, DawgNation poll results agree
- Dan Lanning on Georgia DL Jordan Davis: ‘Jordan just doesn’t get moved’
- Georgia football could make critics eat their words in 2021
- Georgia football fall practice live updates, injury notes and position battles
- Georgia football podcast: James Cook concerned with national championship, not stats
- Georgia coordinator Dan Lanning dishes on Darnell Washington catch radius, how JT Daniels an operator
- Coaches Poll 2021 preseason rankings: Georgia football starts season in top-5