Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker.

 

 

 

By Mike London

mike.london@salisburypost.com

ATLANTA — It’s just one play, part of a work in progress, part of a blossoming career, but the replays have gone viral on various platforms for a reason.

The scene is Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Saturday afternoon, Clemson vs. Georgia, a marquee college football game between two southern powers who like to compete for national championships.

Georgia is dominating every aspect of play.

Clemson snaps the ball. Georgia defenders start to quickly win personal duels with o-linemen and are penetrating or holding their ground all along the line of scrimmage. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik takes a worried, hurried glance, fakes a handoff and elects to keep the ball. He doesn’t need much for a first down, but it’s a decision he will live to regret.

In front of Klubnik, spearheading the blocking for him, is a massive white jersey. It belongs to a 6-foot-6, 315-pound left tackle from Virginia named Tristan Leigh, who no doubt will play in the NFL.

Leigh expects to smash the smaller defender sliding to his left without fear to confront him, and for a split-second Leigh has to be confident Clemson will move the chains.

But Leigh encounters an unexpected problem. His progress is stopped abruptly, like he’s rammed headlong into a stone wall. The obstacle in his way is wearing a red Georgia jersey, No. 11. He’s a 245-pound linebacker named Jalon Walker, a junior from Salisbury, and Walker shows on this play, that he also is headed to the NFL.

Leigh finally seizes Walker in frustrated desperation, clearly holds him although there is no flag. Even grabbing him, Leigh still can’t budge Walker, who is 70 pounds lighter, an inch. Walker has worked out like a fiend in the summer heat, going above and beyond every single day and night, and he is Batman strong in his arms and upper body. He can set a rigid edge and he isn’t going anywhere until he’s good and ready.

Finally, Walker is ready because Klubnik is about to arrive. Walker carries Leigh laterally with him toward the ball carrier, and then makes a violent, diving tackle that shakes the quarterback and the stadium. Leigh and Klubnik are both on the ground now with Walker. Walker is the first one on his feet, and he’s punching the air.

In the stands are Walker’s parents, Curtis, the former Catawba College head football coach and his wife, LaSheka. Every Bulldog fan is going crazy, but they stand out a little bit.

“We’re both wearing Jalon jerseys,” Curtis said. ‘So it wasn’t a secret who we were.”

After two years of making thrilling plays in limited action as he apprenticed behind great players, this will be Jalon Walker’s season, extending all the way to Draft Day. He received national accolades for his play against Clemson. Officially, he had six tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Walker had a team-high 5.5 sacks as a part-time player in 2023, but he has never complained about not getting more snaps. He’s been a good soldier. As the son of a coach, he understands things like paying dues, being ready when the time comes. He has continued to do the job on and off the field.

Georgia announced in the preseason that it plans to move Walker this year from an edge-rushing linebacker to more of a coverage linebacker. The Bulldogs are dealing with injuries, so it’s hard to say exactly how things will shake out, but head coach Kirby Smart acknowledged in his postgame comments on Saturday that Walker needs to be on the field. There’s not much doubt he can play every linebacker spot, whether the Bulldogs want him to chase quarterbacks, stuff the run or cover receivers. He is a complete package physically, mentally and emotionally — really smart, crazy fast and insanely strong.

Some casual ACC and SEC fans wondered on Saturday where this Walker guy came from, but fans who follow Georgia closely have known who Walker is since the 5-star recruit’s first day on campus. It’s always been a matter of when, not if, as far as Walker’s breakout.

Walker has become a leader in the classroom and in the locker room and in the community in Georgia. His parents are as proud of those things as they are for anything he can do on the field. And he can do a lot on the field.

“Pride is what I felt watching him Saturday, just so proud when I see him on the field for the Georgia Bulldogs,” said Curtis, an All-American linebacker in his playing days at Catawba. “Jalon’s play made us proud not just because he played at such a high level, but because we know how hard he has worked to play on a stage like he was on. When he walked out there as a captain, we were proud. When he walked out there with Coach Smart after the game to receive the trophy, we were proud. And then he was Reece’s National Defensive Player of the Week. That’s a great weekend.”

It was a double-edged trip to Atlanta for the Walkers because their younger son, Curtis Jr, also known as Deuce, is a true freshman defensive back at Georgia State. With Deuce’s Saturday game scheduled for 8 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium against Georgia Tech and with Jalon playing a noon game against Clemson at a different stadium but in the same city, they knew they could see both games.

The Walkers made the trip down to Georgia on Thursday. They visited Jalon at his condo.

They drove to Atlanta on Friday. Their hotel was in an ideal position, half a mile from Mercedes-Benz, with Bobby Dodd Stadium three-quarters of a mile in the other direction.

“We were almost halfway between the two stadiums,” Curtis said. “On Friday, we got to do a little catching up with Jalon and with Deuce. The teams stayed in the hotels on Friday, so we saw them some after dinner and before meetings. Maybe 30 minutes of catching up.”

The postgame reunion of Walkers at the Georgia-Clemson game was delayed a bit because Jalon’s role in the game was so prominent. He was called upon to represent the Georgia defense, which had a dominant effort in a 34-3 victory, and he and quarterback Carson Beck fielded questions from reporters for about 10 minutes.

“Finally, Jalon was able to come out just to say hello, and then he ran back to the locker room to get changed,” Curtis said. “Then he walked with LaSheka and me to the hotel. We had time to make a pit stop there and change clothes and Jalon showered and changed as well. The funny thing was Jalon was wearing a hoodie and sunglasses, but people were still recognizing him on the street as we walked. We had to stop for picture-taking a few times.”

Time still wasn’t an issue. The Walkers made it to Bobby Dodd Stadium by 6 p.m. They got to the stadium in time to see the Georgia State Panthers getting off the bus.

“We were able to greet Deuce and the team,” Curtis said. “We were able to see the Panther Walk, and even though they have a new coaching staff it was well-received by the fans as they welcomed the team to the stadium. It was almost a fashion show — a lot of well-dressed young men on a business trip.”

The game didn’t go as well as the Panther Walk for Georgia State. Georgia Tech, which already had beaten Florida State this season, won 35-12. Zeek Biggers, former West Rowan star, recovered a fumble for the Yellow Jackets.

“We enjoyed Deuce’s game,” Curtis said. “The Panthers fought hard, but Georgia Tech is very good and may have one heck of a year.”

Deuce didn’t get into the season opener. He is a second team nickel back and is on the travel squad, so he may get his first opportunity soon.

“Deuce was dressed, ready and in tune with the game, but he did not get in,” Curtis said. “He understands it’s a process of developing. He was excited to get back to work on Monday. His time will come soon. He knows he has to be ready when the time comes.”

Jalon stayed in Atlanta on Saturday night. One of the highlights for all the Walkers was a family breakfast on Sunday morning.

“It was a great weekend of bonding,” Deuce said. “That first weekend of football in Georgia was very special. We enjoyed it.”

With his mother in town, Deuce knew that his apartment was going to undergo a rigorous inspection.

“I thought my room looked pretty good, but Mom thought otherwise,” Deuce said. “I think I passed the inspection, but she still had to clean and rearrange things like any mom would do.”

“We spent a couple of hours at Deuce’s place after Sunday breakfast,” Curtis added cheerfully. “LaSheka had to make sure it looked as close to his room at home as possible.”

All in all, a fantastic weekend for the Walkers. His parents got to witness Jalon’s greatest game — so far.

“It was a breakout game on a big stage and Jalon played as well as I’ve ever seen him play,” Curtis said. “The boys gave us a weekend experience that will last a lifetime, but there’s a lot more coming.”

Saturday, Sept. 7, was more challenging, with Jalon playing at 2 p.m. in Athens and Deuce playing in Atlanta at 7 p.m., but the Walkers didn’t have to choose.

They still attended both games. They will continue to go to both — Georgia blowouts will help — whenever there’s a chance to do so.

“We’ll be ready every weekend,” Curtis said.