Star FCS pass rusher David Walker has gone from D2 standout to potential top 100 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft class
A little known high school recruit coming out of Stuttgart, Arkansas, it has been a fascinating journey for record setting pass rusher David Walker. After very little recruiting interest out of high school, Walker ended up at D2 Southern Arkansas. He experienced a breakout sophomore season, collecting 52 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and […]
A little known high school recruit coming out of Stuttgart, Arkansas, it has been a fascinating journey for record setting pass rusher David Walker. After very little recruiting interest out of high school, Walker ended up at D2 Southern Arkansas. He experienced a breakout sophomore season, collecting 52 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks for the team.
In the modern era of the transfer portal, Walker was left to consider all options. Should he stay with the Muleriders or look for “better”? He chose the latter.
That led him to the FCS ranks, transferring to play for the Central Arkansas Bears. Obviously, with his roots in the state, this wasn’t a foreign program for Walker. The only question he had was, just how good could he be?
Flash forward nearly three seasons, and we know exactly how good he has been: Legendary. We don’t often see players of Walker’s stature on that level. In three seasons with the team, he has recorded 172 total tackles, 58.5 tackles for loss, 29.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles. Walker has truly been one of the greatest Central Arkansas football players in the program’s history, and one of the best pass rushers that the FCS level has seen.
The talented pass rusher has been so good that NFL scouts have been taking a lot of notice over the last two seasons in particular. There were some that even thought Walker would enter the 2024 NFL Draft, in which he more than likely would have been a later day three selection (rounds 4-7) last April.
That wasn’t good enough for Walker, who returned to school to raise his draft stock. When you now pop on his 2024 college season film, you are looking at a whole new player. Walker has lost some weight, and really filled out his frame well. He looks sleeker, more explosive, and overall in much better shape.
While some will question Walker’s outlier size (6010v, 260v, 3148v), most around the league have loved what he has put on film this season. In a lot of ways, his game is eerily reminiscent of Philadelphia Eagles great Brandon Graham. Possessing outstanding natural leverage, a relentless motor, and an advanced pass rush repertoire, Walker brings a high floor to the table.
The latest buzz around Walker is he won’t last very long into early day three, but could potentially play himself into the top 100 selections of the 2025 NFL Draft class. Walker recently received an invitation to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, and word is that a Reese’s Senior Bowl invite could be in his future as well.
In a world where we hyper focus on recruiting backgrounds, and five-stars, it’s always nice to be able to celebrate a player who came “out the mud.” The deck was stacked against Walker, who is now one of the top pass rushers in the 2025 class.
