The Jacksonville Jaguars made several additions across the roster in the offseason and expect many of the newcomers to have an immediate impact. On the other hand, the team is also counting on several returning players to either bounce back or take the next step in 2025. Pass rusher Travon Walker falls in the latter category.
The first overall pick in 2021, Walker had a relatively quiet rookie campaign, which is understandable when you take into account that he switched to standup linebacker after mostly playing with his hand in the ground at the collegiate level. The former Georgia Bulldog has since gotten fully acclimated to the pros, posting 10 sacks each of the last two seasons. He's now expected to take a leap in Year 4.
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What has Jaguars HC Liam Coen seen in Travon Walker
Under general manager James Gladstone, the Jacksonville Jaguars haven't hesitated to move on from players the past regime brought in. On the other hand, the team's brass didn't fully dismantle the roster and kept several key contributors around. Among them is Travon Walker, who had his fifth-year option picked up. This is noteworthy because fellow 2022 first-round pick Devin Lloyd had his declined.
Not long after exercising Walker's option, Gladstone said that the team was excited about the ascending pass rusher. More recently, head coach Liam Coen echoed that sentiment.
Coen told the local media after Day 5 of training camp that he was pleased with Walker, pointing out that he's mature for his age.
"He's very serious, you know. But also has just a very genuine, honest way of approaching conversation," Coen responded when asked what he's learned from Walker (7:07 mark). "He asks a lot, he'll ask me questions that not a lot of players will ask. I'm not saying it's more mature than others, but it is for a younger player. It just has a good feel for people, for the team, for the guys, and just ultimately what he wants to accomplish in his career and for this team. "
Coen continued, "So I've been pleased that he's kind of stoic that way. And I think he's a little bit wise beyond his years in some ways, in terms of age. But man, he had a really good practice yesterday. I got to watch the one today. I don't feel like we maybe got quite as much, but the ball was coming out maybe a little bit more today than it has been, but I've been very pleased. I like Travon a lot."
That is precisely what you want a head coach to say about a player. Of course, Travon Walker will need to continue to show out the remainder of training camp and later in the preseason. But based on Liam Coen's comments, he'll be ready to pick up where he left off last year and take his game to the next level in 2025.