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Jacksonville Jaguars' Travon Walker 'a lot more comfortable' entering Year 4. Here's why
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- Jacksonville Jaguars' Travon Walker 'a lot more comfortable' entering Year 4. Here's why
What was missing from the Jacksonville Jaguars last season?
Energy.
It's something several players have noted as a major change so far in the offseason. The latest of them being Travon Walker , the No. 1 overall selection of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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"He brings great energy. All of the coaches do, but I think it starts with him," Walker said of new head coach Liam Coen . "He is a big energy guy. He is always trying to get feedback from the players, so I feel like that is going to carry us a long way as well."
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Walker is entering his fourth season in the league and has gone from a quiet young player to one of the strongest voices on Jacksonville's defense.
He's coming off consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks and has his eyes trained on more success for himself and his teammates.
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"I just want to be a total and complete football player," he told reporters after Jacksonville wrapped up its fourth OTA practice . "I want to be able to stop the run because we aren't able to rush the passer without stopping the run. Once we do that it allows us to get after the quarterback.
"I just want to come out here and be the best overall player I can be every day."
Travon Walker has turned corner on the field and in locker room as leader for Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) drills on pads during the first organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Monday, May 19, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Walker's first season in the league was a bit turbulent . He wasn't very productive, only logging 3.5 sacks while Detroit 's Aiden Hutchinson — selected No. 2 overall by the Lions in 2022 — exploded for 9.5 as a rookie.
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It resulted in Walker being labeled a bust before he could get his footing and becoming the subject of a debate that'll likely span the duration of his career .
It's something that's far in the back of his mind as he tries to learn Jacksonville's new defensive scheme.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) looks on during the first organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Monday, May 19, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
"I am a lot more comfortable. The guys in the locker room are a lot more comfortable with me, too," Walker said. "I feel like all that just came with coming into the league, establishing myself and making plays for myself regardless of what the media said or what position I was drafted in."
Walker is ninth in franchise history for sacks with 24 in his career. If he achieves another double-digit season this year, he'd land inside the top five all-time.
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Is it something he's shooting for? Not particularly.
"As of right now, I haven't set out any goals for myself," he said. "I always tell myself just get one percent better every day"
Jaguars DE Travon Walker says there's a noticeable 'energy' with the new coaching staff
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) talks with Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah (90) during the fourth organized team activity at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Tuesday, May 27, 2025. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
The change in coaching staff means Walker will be playing for his third defensive coordinator in four years this season. The lack of continuity amongst the Jaguars would be something easy for him to point fingers at.
But he won't blame that for Jacksonville's struggles.
"I am not the type of person to make excuses," he said. "I feel like everybody would be a lot more comfortable that way if we were all solid, no weak links. If you lose one link you try to piece things together, but once you get it jelled in, and everything is clicking it will flow a lot better."
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Coen brought in Anthony Campanile to be his defensive coordinator. There's certainly an "energy" uptick from the previous coordinators of Ryan Nielsen and Mike Caldwell, who were both a bit more low-key in their approaches.
"He is a great guy once you get to know him, but the first thing that sticks out is the energy," Walker said of Campanile. "He is consistent with it every day. That is all you can ask for is a person to be the same person everyday regardless of if he's a high-energy guy or just a mellow guy. He is one of those high-energy guys every day."
Walker said the new system isn't different, it just has a lot of components to it. He said its like a "multi-D" where the Jaguars will present some of everything.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) can’t stop Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) during the third quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
One of the main changes of the offseason came from roster management. The Jaguars added veteran edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah and rookie Jalen McLeod to add depth in their pass rusher room.
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However, the interior defensive line unit remains largely the same. Does that mean Walker could kick inside as he did at the University of Georgia?
"Who knows? This is the NFL," Walker said. "We go game by game, week to week. We will see."
Walker and the rest of the Jaguars will continue with their offseason program with OTA No. 7 on June 2.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars' Travon Walker loves energy Liam Coen provides
