The NFL honors a key Jaguars young player as a nominee for an award truly bigger than football

The 2024 season hasn't gone according to plan for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are sitting third in the AFC South with a 2-6 record heading into Week 9 of the regular season.However, one player who has had a solid year is former number-one overall pick Travon Walker, who is also being recognized for the impact […]

Destin Adams NFL News Writer
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Oct 27, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) waits for the snap against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter at EverBank Stadium.
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

The 2024 season hasn't gone according to plan for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are sitting third in the AFC South with a 2-6 record heading into Week 9 of the regular season.

However, one player who has had a solid year is former number-one overall pick Travon Walker, who is also being recognized for the impact he is having off the field. 


The Jaguars drafted Walker with the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. After a lackluster rookie season, Walker recorded ten sacks in 2023 and has already recorded 6.5 through the team's first eight games. He's on pace for yet another career-setting season. On top of him becoming a fantastic player for the team, he has now been named the Jaguars' nominee for the 2024 Salute to Service award presented by USAA. Here is what the league had to say about Walker after announcing his nomination. 

"Travon is extremely active in the military community in Jacksonville. During his rookie season, Travon visited Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville to tour a ship and take the opportunity to thank our active-duty service members for their sacrifice. Travon is an avid supporter of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, where he most recently supported the Sullivan family. Anita Sullivan, the surviving spouse of CE3 Michael Sullivan, USN, shared that their oldest son, Drew, and his girlfriend were involved in a horrific car accident that has put Drew through multiple surgeries, spending weeks in the hospital and rehab. Travon surprised the family with a shopping spree. Additionally, during the Jaguars military appreciation day, Travon took it upon himself to thank Sgt. David James McLaughlin Jr., a combat veteran who served during Afghanistan, for his service. Sgt. McLaughlin was invited to the stadium and Travon presented David with an autograph jersey before surprising the sergeant with the real reason he was here – to receive a new home! Travon Walker grew up with military and U.S. Marine Corps beliefs instilled at a young age. Not only did Walker’s father serve in the USMC during Operation Desert Storm, but his grandfather served in the army during the Korean War. Travon’s father believes he’s the player he is today because of his drive to compete and be the absolute best in everything he does, traits that Travon would have picked up from his father and military family."