UCF tackle John Walker plans to enter transfer portal

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UCF defensive tackle John Walker plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.

The redshirt sophomore notified coach Scott Frost of his decision on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Walker was a four-star standout from Osceola High School and became the highest-rated high school prospect to sign with the program when he arrived as part of the 2023 recruiting class under then-coach Gus Malzahn.

During his freshman season, Walker registered 24 tackles, five tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries in 389 snaps in 13 games. Expectations were for a more significant role in 2024, but that never materialized after the Kissimmee native suffered an undisclosed lower leg injury during the final week of last year’s fall camp that ended his sophomore season.

He returned healthy in 2025, starting 12 games at tackle for a UCF team that finished 5-7 in Year 1 under Frost. Walker finished with 40 tackles, three for a loss with a sack, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Walker becomes the eighth UCF player to announce plans to transfer, joining the likes of quarterbacks Tayven Jackson and Jacurri Brown. He becomes the 11th player from the 2023 class to transfer.

Longtime defensive tackles coach Kenny Martin talked about Walker’s potential during fall camp.

“He’s a true staple of what UCF is about with doing more with less,” explained Martin. “To be honest, a lot of teams came after him, but he stayed because he trusts the process. He knows the other stuff is coming later. He knows that being here will help him develop. He will get everything he needs to know and he has a chance to put his name on the side of the stadium as being somebody special.”

Walker’s departure leaves the Knights with Horace Lockett, RJ Jackson Jr., Derrick LeBlanc, Jeffson Lafontant and Rodney Lora as the only tackles with significant playing time under their belts. Lockett suffered a season-ending injury against Kansas State on Sept. 27.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

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