John Walker DT Ohio State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #55 SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.11 seconds (49%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.11 DOB: 11/07/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #55 | |
| SUB-POSITION: DT 3-TECH | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 5.11 seconds (49%*) | |
| Age: 22.11 DOB: 11/07/2003 | |
| Overall Rating: |
75.0 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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77% |
| Pass Rush: |
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77% |
| Run Defense: |
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77% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#403
Position rank:
#59 (DL)
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| College Games: 33 College Snaps: 1146 | ||
ESPN RATING: 84/100
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247 RATING: 95/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tommy Togiai - Ohio State |
|
91% |
| Cameron Young - Mississippi State |
|
83% |
| Junior Tafuna - Utah |
|
83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
John Walker was a four-star recruit at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida, and the highest-rated signee in UCF history, choosing the Knights over Ohio State. As a senior he had nine sacks among 16 tackles for loss and made 79 tackles, then played in the Under Armour All-America Game.Walker played in all 13 games as a freshman in 2023 and was named an On3 True Freshman All-American. A leg injury cost him the entire 2024 season, but he returned to start 12 games in 2025, making 40 tackles with a sack and a forced fumble.
Walker transferred to Ohio State in January 2026 with two years of eligibility left and has played in every game as part of the defensive tackle rotation. He played 54 snaps and made three tackles in the 24-23 loss at Texas, and he has five quarterback hits this season.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Stout run defender who holds the point, as he did over 54 snaps at Texas
- Five quarterback hits show he can collapse the pocket
- Former Freshman All-American with starting experience at UCF
- Disciplined tackler, with one missed tackle this season
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- No sacks in eight games despite five quarterback hits
- Rotational role at Ohio State, at about 33 snaps a game
- Missed all of 2024 with a leg injury
- Lacks the burst to win quickly as a pass rusher
- Could return to Ohio State with a year of eligibility left
Scouting Report: Summary
Walker is a strong, disciplined interior lineman who has found a rotation role on a deep Ohio State front. He holds up against the run, rarely misses tackles and has collapsed the pocket at times, with five quarterback hits.However, he has not recorded a sack this season, his quickness is only average, and he lost all of 2024 to a leg injury. With eligibility left, another year could give him a bigger role.
Overall, Walker is a reliable rotational tackle with a strong recruiting pedigree. He projects as a priority free agent, with room to improve his stock if he stays in school.
How other scouting services rate John Walker (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
359.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
62.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.