If you’re even somewhat familiar with the NFL Draft and its annual broadcast, you likely know by now that the Philadelphia Eagles and their general manager, Howie Roseman, have a strong preference for selecting defensive players from the University of Georgia.
It’s a well-earned reputation. Over the 2022 and 2023 drafts, the Eagles chose five defensive players from Georgia’s back-to-back national championship teams, including each of their three first-round picks.
According to Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department, this trend is expected to continue in 2025, with a recent mock draft projecting the Eagles to select Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker in the first round (No. 26 overall).
From Bleacher Report: “Jokes aside about the Eagles drafting another Georgia Bulldog, Jalon Walker would give defensive coordinator Vic Fangio a versatile piece capable of playing off-ball linebacker, rushing off the edge, and attacking from various alignments. His downhill burst and quickness are overwhelming for opposing offenses. … Walker also shows skill in dropping into coverage and making plays in space.”
From High School Star in North Carolina to National Champion
Walker, rated North Carolina’s top high school prospect as a senior at Salisbury High, became a College Football Playoff National Champion in his first year at Georgia.
Though not primarily an edge rusher nor a starter in 2023, he led Georgia with 5.0 sacks. He’s breaking out in 2024, posting 35 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 19 QB pressures, and 2 fumble recoveries in the first eight games.
Walker confirmed his first-round status in a 30-15 win over No. 1 Texas on October 19, recording 7 tackles, 3 sacks, and a fumble recovery. ESPN noted it was the first time in 20 years a player registered 3 sacks and at least 7 tackles against a No. 1 team.
Philly’s History of Drafting Georgia Stars
For those questioning the Eagles picking another Georgia player in the first round, consider the five Georgia players they’ve selected over the last three years.
None have yet to make a significant impact, with none earning an NFL All-Pro or Pro Bowl selection. This group includes first-round defensive linemen Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and linebacker Nolan Smith.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. currently ranks Walker, at 6’2″ and 245 pounds, as the No. 10 overall prospect for the 2025 draft.
“Walker gets into the backfield like he’s shot out of a cannon, with the bend and explosion to beat blockers and get to the quarterback or ball carrier,” Kiper Jr. commented. “He’s a versatile defender, with experience as both an off-ball linebacker and a pass rusher. His sideline-to-sideline speed stands out on tape. In Week 8 against Texas, he recorded three sacks.”
Walker also hails from a football family—his father, Curtis Walker, served as head coach at NCAA Division II Catawba College for 10 years, following roles as defensive coordinator at Coastal Carolina and Western Carolina.
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