Walker first hit our radar during last season’s deep dives where he was the only underclassman in the group. That underscores the youth in Durham and Orange Counties this season, as plenty of teams will be replacing their best lineman. That isn’t the case for Walker and Cedar Ridge, as he isn’t just the leading returner in terms of sacks, but in tackles as well. He’ll line up everywhere, but his home is in the middle where he can blow up blocks.

Every time we look at Walker’s film, we come away more impressed than we expected. More of a 3-4 defensive end than a true interior guy in Cedar Ridge’s defensive system, his height may push him inside in college, but that shouldn’t be an issue. His get-off is elite, and he’s a hard-working pass-rusher. This year, he showed patience as a run defender, especially against the option looks.

Walker plays a lot off the edge for Cedar Ridge, but projects best as a quicker three-technique at the next level. He popped up during my RDU Deep Dives series, and to be honest, I was a bit surprised at how impressive he was last year during a forgettable team season for Cedar Ridge. He’s a guy who can succeed even when the offense keys on him.

Cedar Ridge didn’t have a ton of team success in 2024, but Walker was a bright spot, lining up all over the defensive line and forcing frequent double-teams. I think he’ll ultimately bulk up a bit more in the weight room and end up playing primarily on the inside right now, but he’s a scary pass-rusher from anywhere. He can also shoot gaps and create havoc in the running game.