5-star Signee Travon Walker Ready to Win Championships at Georgia

THOMASTON - In today’s college football, to win championships you need an elite defensive line. That position group is a big reason why Alabama and Clemson have been fighting for national championships the past four years. Big, athletic defensive lineman are game changers in college football and the Georgia Bulldogs just signed one of the best in the country.

Five-star defensive line signee Travon Walker‍ checks all the boxes in terms of size, athletic ability, versatility and overall potential. At 6-foot-5 285-pounds, Walker is one of the most athletic defensive line prospects to come out of the peach state in years.

Dawg Post attended Walker’s Upon-Lee basketball practice on Monday as the five star tries to lead his team to a third-consecutive state championship. Walker and his teammates had a tough, physical practice that evening, and thats exactly how Walker wants it.

“Bruce Pearl wanted him to come play basketball at Auburn.” One Upson-Lee assistant coach told Dawg Post. 

That shouldn’t be shocking to anyone who has seen him play. His elite athleticism at that size is why college coaches from around the country came knocking on his door. In the end, the five-star lineman chose to stay home and play for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.

“It was just a gut feeling about Georgia.” Walker told Dawg Post. “My mom was happy there. My dad and the rest of my family were happy there, too.”

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart made sure Walker knew he was a wanted man in Athens.

“Coach Smart recruited me the entire time.” Walker said. “ I know I’ve said this before but a lot of times the head coach doesn’t recruit you the whole way, but coach Smart did.”

Smart, one of the nation’s top recruiters, wasn’t going to let one of the state’s best defensive lineman leave the state. Walker admitted that he grew to have a special relationship with Smart through his recruitment. 

“What makes Kirby Smart so special to me is that he’s a defensive minded coach.” Walker said. “When we spoke he said he’d be in every defensive meeting that I ever have at the University of Georgia while he’s there. He is able to get on the phone at any time and make time for you. If he wants a player bad enough he will make sure he has time to talk with you and spend time with you. He’s not like other coaches where you might have to wait a little bit or wait until a certain time to talk to them and it might only be once a month. Coach Smart was a coach I could talk to at least once a week.”

Defensive line coach Tray Scott also made a big impression on Walker during the recruiting process.

“Coach Scott is one of those younger guys who is really energetic.” Walker said. “I feel like he has a lot to bring to the table. A lot of coaches might talk down on him a little bit but he’s a young coach and I’ve seen him coach myself so I know he’s a good coach.”

The young Georgia assistant has done a great job on the recruiting trail, signing Walker and multiple four-star lineman with size and versatility.

“This is a great class coming in.” Walker said. “We didn’t really try to put together the number 1 class or anything. We just wanted to put a special class together no matter what the ranking is. In our position group all of us can play every defensive line position which makes this defensive line group a strong one. All of us are coming in together and will be able to push each other. Just from talking with those guys I know they’re coming in and ready to compete.”

Walker admitted that he wasn’t recruited to play a certain position on the defensive line, but instead will be played wherever the coaches need him.

“Georgia didn’t really recruit me to play a specific position, but they showed me how they would use me in different places depending on what team and style of offense we are playing that week.” Walker said. “I played some middle linebacker this past year and was able to roam around. Being in the middle of the field I was able to go around and chase the ball more than I would on the defensive line.”

In the end, Walker came to Georgia for a reason. To win. The five-star said those are the goals for this 2019 class.

“Right now the goal is to win a national championship.” Walker said. “We want to go undefeated and win the national championship.”