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There are several former Georgia Bulldogs who are developing into stars in the NFL, and when Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox highlighted a player from each team he deemed as their "most promising building block", three Bulldogs made his list.
Outside linebacker Jalon Walker from the Atlanta Falcons along with Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge.
Drafted No.
15 in the 2025 NFL draft, Walker enjoyed a solid season with the Falcons.
He totaled 36 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks, nine quarterback hits, and 29 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus ( premium subscription needed ).
Overall, he had a solid 71.6 PFF grade, with his best attribute grade as an 81.3 PFF grade in run defense.
His best game pressure-wise was against the New England Patriots in Week 9, a game where he earned four pressures and two sacks.
With linebacker Kaden Elliss departing for the New Orleans Saints, Walker could be expanded into a bigger role.
"We're going to ask him to do a lot," defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said, per Daniel Flick of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"He is one of those guys that's going to be in a similar role that Kaden had last year." Before Walker became a promising young talent with the Atlanta Falcons, he was a staple of Georgia's ferocious front seven in the early 2020s.
The former four-star linebacker recruit from Salisbury, North Carolina, committed to Georgia in 2021.
In his freshman season, he helped Georgia win a national championship as a reserve linebacker.
In 2023 and 2024, he developed into one of Georgia's best pass-rushers.
He earned 20 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss (TFL), and five sacks in 2023, and in 2024, he had 60 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and 6 1/2 sacks.
Walker's 2024 season earned him the Dick Butkus Award for best linebacker in the nation, and he earned comparisons to Micah Parsons throughout the season.
As a result, despite having one more year of eligibility, Walker declared for the 2025 NFL draft, where the Falcons selected him in the first-round.
He's looking to carve out a legendary NFL career , just like his college career.
The Falcons could use a more impactful Walker as Atlanta looks to return to the NFL playoffs.
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