Georgia Bulldogs College Football Pregame Quote, 12/30/2024

Q. What have you done as a leadership guy to help Gunner Stockton?

JALON WALKER: Just letting Gunner be his own man. Of course, we always have his back. Very confident in Gunner and his mindset, executing and getting job done.

Q. Has there been anything different preparation-wise? Usually you go from the SEC championship.

JALON WALKER: No. You don’t know when your last football game is. Every game for the year is a big game.

Q. Congratulations on a wonderful season and also on the Butkus. How much did that mean to you?

JALON WALKER: Meant a lot. From my freshman year, recruiting actually, I set the goal to win the Butkus. It’s crazy how a long time coming.

Q. Take me through that, making that the goal and what was the plan to get there?

JALON WALKER: Just working. Getting to know my craft and getting to know my skill set throughout year, trusting the process of the coaching staff. Their plan had to do not only with my athletic ability, but playing the best position possible.

Q. Did you draw inspiration for that outline from other Georgia Bulldog players who won that award? Did you talk to any of those guys and how they did it?

JALON WALKER: Actually, I was the finalist for the Butkus but came short. That drove me to go to the next level. Of course, Koby [King], who I got to know for a short time. So that inspiration from high school, coming over to college, and inspiration from those guys, just another thing pushing me forward.

Q. Yeah, great legacy for Georgia linebackers and great legacy for the Georgia defense, in general. What is it about this year’s defense that you think can be special? Not the same as last year or the year before, what do you think about this year?

JALON WALKER: You said it exactly. The defense this year, this is all defense. We played our own brand of football for ourselves.

Q. What’s different about this year’s group? How would you say this year’s group is different? What makes this class special?

JALON WALKER: I feel like we have the same characteristics and traits. I feel like we’re a very resilient team, tough defense. We’ve been battle tested all year long. And we always come out when we need to.

Q. Speaking of battle tested, this team has played on this stage before. You guys have played in these big game, won national championships. You have national champions on your team. How is that an advantage in a game like this having been here before?

JALON WALKER: Because we’ve been here before. We have the mindset of what we know a big game is like, but every game say big game for us. And I feel like for Notre Dame as well, every game is a big game for them as well. Every game is big at this point in time. Shouldn’t take any game lightly.

Q. What is it about a championship team in the big moments, in terms of the composure, the poise? What is different about a team that can win it all in these big moments?

JALON WALKER: You have championship mindset teams, basically, it comes down to everybody putting their heart into the game.

Q. What have you seen from this team in tough moments, in losses or close games or come back wins where you can tell this group want to tell us it more?

JALON WALKER: Just the way we pursue, practice, the way we prepare for games. The way we don’t go crazy in moments. Very resilient. I feel like having composure is the way you have better outcomes.

Q. Those back-to-back championships a couple years ago, do those weigh heavily on this group? The expectation to get back there? Like take me through that and how that kind of, I don’t know, propels you guys?

JALON WALKER: Of course, it’s motivation. It doesn’t sit heavy. It’s part of our team that we want to get back to that. Get into a championship. It doesn’t really affect us.

Q. Looking at your play on the field, when you came into this season, you said in order to win the Butkus, I need to do this. What are things you worked on the most in your game to get better?

JALON WALKER: I say really every aspect. Our game, pass game, rushing, there’s always room to improve. I took the initiative in the offseason to put in the work to become a better football player.

Q. Can you give me specifics of the work you did to become a better football player, whether it was moving your body in different way, working on hip mobility. Take me through some of the things you did to make your better for football?

JALON WALKER: I took the initiative during the summer to work on pass rushing. So I got a pass

rush specialist. Work out with them. Finding out the little details.

Q. What pass rushers in NFL do you like to watch?

JALON WALKER: It’s kind of hard to say because I play linebacker as well. So I’m really watching maybe like three different position at the same time. So it gets hectic at times like that.

Q. You’re such a hybrid player. Do you want to specialize?

JALON WALKER: Not sure. I’m enjoying being able to be a hybrid player. Never know where I’m at. So it’s pretty fun to do. Of course, it’s very mentally testing, being able to play three positions, moving from this position, that play and the next play that position. I enjoy it. Being able to play different positions.

Q. How does that add value at the next level? What will an NFL team be getting from you and your versatility?

JALON WALKER: Getting a football player who can be on the field, play on the field, any type of field.

Q. The initial conversations with Coach Smart about that initial plan, what did it say to you about what he was delivering to and you planned for you?

JALON WALKER: That’s what I did in high school. Of course, I was excited about being able to play two positions. It’s fun.

Q. You’re a coach’s kid?

JALON WALKER: Correct.

Q. And I know that has a lot of benefits for you as a player. What’s the best part about being a coach’s kid?

JALON WALKER: Being around the game. My dad ‚Äì I wasn’t really forced to play football. Which I really appreciate. I got to sit there and be around the locker room, sit with all the players in the room and get to learn their names and how football actually functions and flowed before I even played a snap on the field. Being able to sit there and go to these games and sit on the sideline with the ball boy, those are memories I’ll never forget. That’s how football started for me.

Once I got the opportunity to play football, my dad was fired up. It was just a great opportunity for me since I play running back and tight end, and maybe high school, that’s when I started playing defense. It was fun. Just being around football, really excites me. It’s a part of me. It’s part of my life.