Jaguars select Travon Walker: What to know about the 2022 NFL Draft’s No. 1 pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars made Travon Walker the No. 1 choose of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday evening as one of many league’s premier occasions came about in Las Vegas.

Walker was one among two defensive linemen who actually may’ve been the highest choose within the draft. Consultants stated Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson may have additionally been a No. 1 total choice if it wasn’t going to be the Georgia standout.

Jaguars followers will get to know Walker effectively all through his profession in Jacksonville.

Learn under for a listing of issues to learn about Walker earlier than the 2022 NFL season kicks off later this 12 months.

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Highschool star

Walker performed at Upson-Lee in Georgia. He got here to Georgia ranked No. 2 defensively amongst defensive linemen. He was a five-star prospect, in response to 247 Sports activities, and performed within the 2019 All-American Bowl.

The place did Walker play in faculty?

Walker performed for the Georgia Bulldogs from 2019 to 2021. He began to play his freshman 12 months with the Bulldogs, showing in 9 video games and recording 15 tackles. He had 2.5 sacks in his first season.

Within the pandemic-impacted second season in 2020, Walker managed to play in seven video games and had 13 tackles with 2.5 sacks to his credit score

Walker was part of the fierce national-championship-winning Georgia protection that outlasted Alabama to win the title throughout the 2021 season. He had 33 tackles, six sacks and seven.5 tackles for a loss.

Thriving in huge moments

Bryce Younger #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide scrambles from Travon Walker #44 of the Georgia Bulldogs throughout the first quarter within the 2022 CFP Nationwide Championship Recreation at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Dylan Buell/Getty Photos)

Walker had a profession recreation within the Faculty Soccer Playoff nationwide championship towards Alabama. He had a career-high seven QB hurries on Bryce Younger because the Bulldogs gained their first nationwide championship since 1980.

NFL DRAFT 2022: JAGUARS SELECT DEFENSIVE LINEMAN TRAVON WALKER WITH NO. 1 PICK

Measurables

Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker catches a cross throughout a drill on the NFL soccer scouting mix, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Indianapolis.
(AP Photograph/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Walker is listed at 6-foot-5 and 272 kilos. His arms measured at 35 1/2 inches and his fingers measured at 10 3/4 inches. He ran a 4.51-second 40-yard sprint with a 35.5 vertical soar. He ran a 6.89-second three-cone drill and a 4.32-second 20-yard shuttle.

Jaguars protection

Walker is about to play on the identical protection as linebacker Josh Allen and Okay’Lavon Chaisson in addition to Malcolm Brown, Foley Fatukasi and Roy Robertston-Harris.

Jacksonville’s protection has been one of many worst within the final three years. The crew ranked twenty eighth in factors allowed and twentieth in yards allowed in 2021. The crew hasn’t been within the high 5 in these defensive classes because the 2018 crew.

Jacksonville’s hope

Travon Walker #44 Darnell Washington #0 of the Georgia Bulldogs heat up previous to a recreation towards the Alabama Crimson Tide within the 2022 CFP Nationwide Championship Recreation at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Carmen Mandato/Getty Photos)

With the Walker choose this 12 months and the Trevor Lawrence choose final 12 months, Jacksonville is hoping flip it round. Jacksonville has solely made the playoffs as soon as because the 2008 season and solely 3 times since 2000.

Walker can undoubtedly present the jolt the Jaguars must get again to the highest of the division and the playoffs.