Star DT Deone Walker back at Kentucky because Mark Stoops is still in Lexington

DALLAS — Of all the players who could have entered the transfer portal after last season, Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker probably would have drawn the most interest.

He’s a 6-8, 360-pound game-wrecker who can dominate inside, but he’s also capable of rushing off the edge and beating an offensive tackle. Such humans don’t come along often. Probably every program in the country except Michigan — which seems happy with potential first-rounders Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant — would start Walker over their current defensive tackles.

Those other teams almost had a chance to get Walker.

For a few hours in November, he seriously considered leaving Kentucky. As rumors swirled about Wildcats coach Mark Stoops negotiating with Texas A&M about its opening, Walker contemplated his future. And it wasn’t until Stoops assured Walker late on the night of Nov. 25 that Stoops was staying in Lexington that Walker felt comfortable staying in Lexington for his junior season.

“After our Louisville game, a bunch of that talk was being made,” Walker said. “I actually called him. ‘Coach, if you’re going to leave, just tell me. Let me know now.’ But he said he was going to stay loyal to me, stay loyal to the university. So I had to do that for him.”

Walker has drawn the attention of other teams since he arrived on campus at Kentucky. During his freshman season, I watched an opposing offensive lineman approach him on the field after a road game and say “We’d love to have you hear next year.” Walker said that wasn’t the only time that happened that season.

But he remained at Kentucky for his sophomore season, and Wildcats defensive coordinator Brad White had a lot of fun finding different ways to use Walker. The Wildcats had experimented with bringing him off the edge his freshman season. That continued, and White also felt comfortable dropping Walker into coverage on occasion. Walker broke the Florida game open for Kentucky when he caused this interception eight yards from the line of scrimmage.

How will the Wildcats unleash Walker on opponents in 2024? That’s one of the most intriguing questions this preseason. But the most important question for Walker got answered in November when he learned Stoops would stay.