Travon Walker expects better sack total heading into second year with Jacksonville Jaguars

Words can’t describe Travon Walker’s physically imposing nature.

You have to stand near him to realize just how big and impressive he is.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, the 22-year-old could easily transition over to professional wrestling if he’d like.

Even among large individuals, he stands out.

Yet, despite his size and athleticism, one stat stands out for the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end.

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During his rookie season, in which he played in 15 of 17 games, starting 14, he only collected 3.5 sacks.

Yet, it’s something that doesn’t seem to bother defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell.

“The sack total last year wasn’t what he wanted it to be,” Caldwell said. “This year, he’s worked so hard that it’ll increase by his knowledge of the game and him understanding how to get his sacks.”

Walker’s ability to get sacks is not what got him drafted No. 1 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. It was his general ability to put pressure on the quarterback.

During his final year at Georgia, he had just 6.0 sacks in 13 games. In three years with the Bulldogs, he had 9.5 total sacks.

Yet, during the NFL Combine, he tested through the roof and surpassed a crowded field to be taken first overall.

"You think about the size — his height, his weight, his speed — it's like a unicorn," Caldwell said in 2022 after the team drafted Walker. "He is unique. He plays that way and you see it on tape. You see the burst, you see the speed, you see the moves he has. We are excited about him."

Fellow defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the 2022 No. 2 overall pick whom Walker will forever be linked, had 9.5 sacks and three interceptions during his rookie season.

Walker had one INT with his 3.5 sacks.

They were close in total tackles — Hutchinson had 52 to Walker’s 49, but Hutchinson also played in more games. He started all 17 for the Lions in 2022.

Walker had one forced fumble to Hutchinson's zero.

Yet, Caldwell isn’t looking for comparisons, he’s looking for improvement. And he knows if the Jaguars’ defense as a whole can get better, so too will Walker.

“Sacks come in bunches, and it’s just not really him getting the sack, it’s the sack package, really,” Caldwell said. “He’ll have a good rush on one edge and there might not be edge set on the other side so the quarterback can escape.”

The Jaguars finished the 2022 season with 35 sacks, 26th most in the NFL.

Walker’s teammate and team sacks leader Josh Allen expects Walker “to dominate” in 2023.

Allen looks like an Adonis compared to most, yet even at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, he isn’t quite as Herculean as Walker.

Allen sees a more mature and improved player who is ready to take a big step forward as Walker heads into his second season.

“We were real formal last year. This year we don’t have to have that, ‘I’m Josh. I’m Travon’ phase. Now we’re just full go,” Allen said. “Now we can really just sit down and talk film. We can sit down and watch film. We sit right next to each other and talk about things and see things differently.

“Travon is more talkative in meetings now. So that’s also a sign he’s getting it. He’s starting to see things differently on the field and he can really talk about it. He’s definitely taken those steps and that’s how I can see he’s getting better.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker looking to up sack total in 2023