Georgia Football 2018 recruit: Linebacker Quay Walker

What can we expect in Athens?

Walker is going to step into a very talented linebacking corp. As a classic tweener, I don’t think he’s going to focus on either the outside or inside linebacking group. His versatility should mean that he spends time working out in both early on.

There will be some sets where Walker finds himself playing the Natrez Patrick role. Expect to see others where he steps outside. One of the other things about Walker that’s exciting is that he can rush the passer from everywhere. Kirby is going to love putting him in the middle and then blitzing him when the opposition is least expecting it.

There are some attitude questions with Walker. His antics on signing day do indicate that he does need to mature a bit, but he’s in the right place to do that. He will walk into a strong culture that prides itself on being a team and helping one another.

I personally think that if Natrez Patrick does play next year, that could be good for Walker. Patrick clearly made some bad decisions in 2017 and it might have cost us the championship. But he also has a problem and I’m glad Kirby and the team are trying to help him through it. Johnathan Ledbetter had a similar issue and has really turned his life around. He’s shown that overcoming that can make you an even better leader if you tackle the problems head on.

Next: Sophomores to watch in 2018

I mentioned Carter earlier, but I don’t know if he’s the right player to compare to Walker. Quay is a unique guy who has the talent to become something really special in Athens. I don’t know exactly what position he will play, but I know for sure that Kirby Smart and his young LB coaches will find a way to maximize his talents.