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Georgia Football: The ‘Wolfpack’ should be even better in 2018

By Alistair Penny

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the ball against Davin Bellamy #17 and D'Andre Walker #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the third quarter in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the ball against Davin Bellamy #17 and D'Andre Walker #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the third quarter in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: D’Andre Walker
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: D’Andre Walker /

Could D’Andre Walker be even better than Lorenzo?

While he didn’t have the hype Carter did coming into Athens, there is no doubt that D’Andre Walker does one thing better than his former teammate. Rush the passer. Walker has been the Dawgs best pass rusher for a few seasons now. The issue that he had until 2017 was that he struggled to do most other things.

He only accounted for 5.5 sacks last season, but the potential was obvious. Much like Jonathan Ledbetter who got better as the year went on, Walker impressed. He actually had more than both Bellamy and Carter and he did that despite seeing the field less. Walker has the chance to be the first UGA player to hit double figures in sacks since Jarvis Jones. That’s even more likely to happen if Georgia turn him loose this year.

Walker brings senior leadership to an otherwise very young position group. He lacks the overall talent that some of the others have, but he’s still a very talented player. The guy has some very dangerous pass rushing moves and that part of the game has never been an issue for him.

He still needs to bulk up a little in the lower half of his body to hold up vs the run. Walker took steps last year and that helped him see more snaps. He also stopped making mistakes and over-pursuing his targets, a lesson he will need to impart to the young guns.

Walker will be the leader of this unit in 2018. He doesn’t have the name recognition that Crater and Bellamy both had coming into last season. However, he is a more explosive play-maker and that could lead to more sacks this year.

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