Travon Walker: "The Alabama Loss Taught Us A Lot"
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MIAMI - Georgia Bulldog defensive lineman Travon Walker speaks with the media about their Orange Bowl matchup against Michigan.
Q. What makes Jamaree Salyer a good offensive lineman?
TRAVON WALKER: He's one of those guys that comes into work every day and he's going to give it his all. He's just a natural competitor, and he does everything right off the field. Carrying on to the field, he's just one of those guys that's going to bring it and give it his all every day.
Q. We were listening to Michigan earlier this week and their coordinator said this game would be a train wreck, indicating the physicality. What's been the most physical game -- I know they're all physical, but is there a game that stands out to you that you've played where somebody has tried to come downhill at Georgia, because typically teams haven't had much success doing that?
TRAVON WALKER: For me that I can recap, I'd have to say it would have to be Kentucky. Kentucky tried to get after it early and tried to run the ball with the offensive line and the offensive tackles that they have. I would say that would probably have to be the game that I can recap.
Q. It seems like in the lead-up to this week we're hearing a whole lot about Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo but not a whole lot about Travon Walker and Jordan Davis and Nolan Smith and that kind of stuff. When you get ready for a match-up like this, obviously high level, is that motivation for you guys, just proving that they're Big Ten, you're SEC, proving that you're just as good, better, what have you?
TRAVON WALKER: It can be motivation, and those are two great players, but just for the guys that you named, me, Jordan Davis and Nolan, we're just natural competitors, and for the most part, the guys that you named, we've all had to go through something in life to where we had to do the opposite of what other people said or thought that we could do. So we just have to go out and prove whatever they're saying wrong and just do our best.
Q. You guys are coming off a loss, and it's the only game this year where you had no sacks. Nolan seemed to kind of hammer home that point when we talked to him, kind of took it on him. What steps have you taken to kind of maybe remedy that for you guys to maybe have more of an effective pass rush going forward?
TRAVON WALKER: Me just coming to practice working on my pass rush and working on different moves every day against some of the best offensive linemen in the country, which is Jamaree and our offensive line. It's just me coming to practice and working on my skill set, things that can make me better as a pass rusher to affect the quarterback.
Q. I want to ask you about Jalen Carter. He's one of the guys that we've never talked to. And the second question is about players doing interviews now and with NIL and social media, do you think that's something that we'll see changed in college football, where maybe we'll get to see more of players and learn their personalities earlier as players brand themselves? And if you could just tell us about Jalen Carter because we've never been allowed to talk to him.
TRAVON WALKER: With the first part of the question, I do think that the NIL deals will help with like getting to know players more, and then also to answer your second question, Jalen Carter, he's a great player. He's a physical guy, very strong, fast. He's not your typical big defensive tackle that can move around like he does. He's just a great kid. He's young, and he's learning the game very fast. Within the future, I do think it will help to get to know a lot of the players early on.
Q. I know you weren't with the team four years ago when they came into the College Football Playoff, but that team was coming off a win. It was kind of new. There was a lot of excitement. What's the feeling this time for this team when you're coming off a loss? What's the feeling around the team now?
TRAVON WALKER: I can't say it's just fuel to the fire because no one wants to lose, but also that loss taught us a lot and gave us a lot that we can go to practice and work on. Just building up off of that loss, we just have to go in and correct the mistakes that we made in the past and do better moving forward.
Q. Michigan has only allowed 10 sacks this season, which is the fewest amongst Power Five schools. What makes them so good in pass protection?
TRAVON WALKER: As a whole, they have a good offensive unit, offensive line unit, and just I think those guys are very physical up front. They try to play -- well, they do try physical, and we just have to attack them, do things that they haven't seen before or just strain more than they strain.
Q. Can you give us an idea of how many guys are opting out of these optional activities, whether it's the beach, the dinner cruises, stuff like that, and just staying home, and how much of this COVID craziness is on your mind?
TRAVON WALKER: So far we haven't had anybody not go to any team event. The Orange Bowl committee, they have made it safe for us to do all the activities that we have taken place in, and just the COVID aspect it's affecting everybody in the world, and we're just being smart with it, wearing our masks, being around the people that we're always around, and social distancing.
Q. I wanted to follow up on the opt-out question. I know times and things change, and you're one of these guys that appears to be on the brink of being a multimillionaire yourself. Is pretty much the protocol that if it's a playoff game you're going to play, but now maybe when it's not a playoff game, like last year I think we saw a couple Georgia guys that didn't play, the year before Baker. Is that pretty much the standard now that if you're going to be a high draft pick that you're going to see it through if it's a playoff game?
TRAVON WALKER: I mean, for me -- I can't answer for everyone else, but for me, I'm one of those guys that I want to go out and compete for whatever game that my team goes out and plays. I can't answer that question for everyone, but for me I'm just a natural competitor and want to go out there and play, give it my all.
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