The Jacksonville Jaguars’ loaded defense is set to be one of the league’s most formidable units in 2022, and with rookie first-round pick Travon Walker already taking notes from successful starters on the squad in the preseason, it looks like the linebacker is on track to make a big difference in his first season.
In comments to the media after Thursday’s practice, Walker told the press that veteran teammate Josh Allen has played a key role in teaching him the ins and outs of succeeding at the linebacker position, even in the limited time they’ve had together.
“The thing about Josh,” Walker explained, “he’s one of those guys that if he’s doing something, trying to implement something into his game, it could be like watching extra film, working on a different move, just to throw offensive linemen off, keep them from being able to say, ‘Oh, he does this every time,’ but he’s trying to learn something new, he always calls me or shoots me a text like, ‘Oh, bro, I’m about to try to work on this. You can try to implement this into your game if you want to,’ but he’s one of those guys who’s giving me information, and it’s for me to take the information that he’s giving me and try to use it.”
It isn’t unusual for a rookie to be mentored by a more established player at their position but in the case of Walker and Allen, the work put in during the preseason should bear fruit for the Jaguars very soon in the regular season. Paired with a ferocious defensive line that can get after the quarterback on every down, Jacksonville’s front seven is set to be very special in 2022.
Whether they live up to the hype or not will likely be determined by the play of Walker and Allen, and every indication is that they plan to deliver on every bit of promise they’ve shown to this point in the preseason.