Kentucky’s Deone Walker Named to PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team
Kentucky football standout and current Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Deone Walker has been named to the National Football League All-Rookie Team, it was announced by the Professional Football Writers of America.
Davis, a native of Detroit, is in his first season with the Buffalo Bills after being drafted in the fourth round in the 2025 NFL Draft.
In 2025, he appeared in all 17 regular season contests, starting 16 of those. He made 39 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and one sack. Walker added four passes defended, four quarterback hits and a forced fumble. In Buffalo’s playoff run, he added an interception near the line of scrimmage.
Walker, a 6-foot-7, 330-pounder, proved a massive presence in the middle of UK’s defensive line from 2022-24, often drawing double teams. As a three-year letter winner and two-time team captain, he started in 36 of 37 career games played, including 35 in a row. Overall, he totaled 132 career tackles, including 22.0 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks. Additionally, he charted 13 quarterback hurries, six pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
As a junior in 2024, Walker was named to Second Team All-Southeastern Conference by the Associated Press after totaling 37 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, in 11 games played. He also broke up a pair of passes and recovered a fumble.
He had 55 tackles as a sophomore in 2023 and led the team in tackles for loss (12.5), quarterback sacks (7.5) and quarterback hurries (eight). He was named a third-team All-American by College Football News, a fourth-team selection by Phil Steele and was a first-team All-SEC choice by the AP, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus.
As a true freshman, Walker totaled 40 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 13 games. He earned True Freshman All-America honors by On3.com, Pro Football Focus, 247sports.com and The Athletic and was named a First Team Freshman All-American by Football Writers Association of America and College Football News. He became UK’s third FWAA Freshman All-American since the award’s inception in 2001 and its first since Benny Snell Jr. in 2016.
