The Opening Drive 1/9: A Needed Addition Up Front — John Walker
A veteran defensive lineman who adds experience, depth, and stability up front.
Losing Tywon Malone to the NFL, Maxwell Roy to the portal, combined with the potential departure of Kayden McDonald, creates an immediate need for experienced bodies on the interior. That reality puts the transfer portal front and center — and that’s where John Walker comes into play.
When Walker entered the portal, it made sense for the Buckeyes to take a long, hard look. Ohio State recruited him heavily out of high school, and the physical profile has always checked out. Listed at 6-foot-4, 324 pounds, Walker brings size, strength, and real college snaps — traits that translate when you’re trying to replace production and stabilize a defensive line rotation. For Matt Patricia, this is a body that can anchor, absorb reps, and allow the rest of the front to function more cleanly.
What The Film Shows
In the first clip, we see a simple stunt against inside zone. John Walker does a great job getting his hands inside on the guard and winning the leverage battle. Once his hands are inside, the rep is over.
Walker locates the ball carrier and finishes the play in the hole for a two-yard gain. That’s interior play done right — win with hands, control the block, and end the rep.
In clip number two, we see UCF running an interior twist — something I’d like to see the Buckeyes lean into more. What stands out on this rep is that John Walker never stops fighting through the traffic. When you run stunts like this, the picture is rarely clean, but finishing the movement is non-negotiable. If you don’t, you create a seam.
Walker stays active, works through the congestion, and completes the twist as designed. That effort closes space and keeps the structure of the defense intact. These reps show up consistently on his tape — high motor, strain through contact, and execution of what’s called.
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In the third clip, we see John Walker flash his athleticism. At 324 pounds, you’re not often trusted to be the contain player on a pass rush, but on this rep UCF loops Walker back outside. That tells you a lot about how the staff views his movement skills.
Walker doesn’t get home, but the rush still wins. His path forces the BYU quarterback to adjust, alters the throwing angle, and speeds up the decision. That’s impact without a stat.
That ability — size paired with functional movement and rush discipline — is exactly the kind of trait the Buckeyes will covet up front.LB Christian Alliegro (Wisconsin)
In the final clip, I wanted to highlight sheer hustle. These are the plays that win games and separate teams culturally. When coaches turn on the tape on Sundays, these are the reps they show the room — because this is the standard.
On third and long, John Walker is still running, still chasing, still finishing. There’s no let-up, no assumption the play is over. That effort helps get the defense off the field against a very good BYU team.
These are the types of players you build around. Effort travels. Hustle shows up. And it matters.
Why This Addition Works
John Walker brings experience, size, and reliability to the interior of the defensive line. He’s played real snaps, understands how to execute within structure, and consistently finishes reps. This isn’t about flash or projection — it’s about replacing strain, effort, and production up front.
Walker gives the Buckeyes a rotational piece who can anchor early downs, affect the quarterback without compromising rush integrity, and raise the standard of effort in the room. Those traits show up on tape, and they translate. When you’re trying to win the margins in the trenches, additions like this matter.
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