Jailin Walker

UCLA

Oct 25 (Sat)

TBA

Photo by: Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - July 31, 2024 - linebacker Jailin Walker #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers during Fall Camp at John Mellencamp Pavillion in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Spencer Meyer/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Spencer Meyer/Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - April 09, 2024 - linebacker Jailin Walker #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers during Spring Camp at John Mellencamp Pavillion in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Chris Conaway/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Chris Conaway/Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - August 1, 2024 - linebacker Jailin Walker #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers during Fall Camp at John Mellencamp Pavilion in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Grace Urbanski/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Grace Urbanski/Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - March 26, 2024 - linebacker Jailin Walker #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers during practice at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Andrew Mascharka/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Andrew Mascharka/Indiana Athletics

Position:
LB
Ht./Wt.:
6-1 / 218
Year:
Senior
Hometown:
Richmond, Va.
High School:
Varina
Prev School:
James Madison

Career Notes & Records
Appeared in 44 career games with 33 starts ... Played 31 games with 20 starts over three seasons at James Madison (2021-23) ... Three-time honorable mention all-conference selection (2024, Big Ten; 2022 & 2023 Sun Belt) ... Owns three career double-digit tackle games (1 at IU; 2 at JMU).

2024 Season (Senior Season)
Awards: Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten from the conference coaches and media ... Garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after 4.0 tackles for loss, one interception and one forced fumble in a victory over Purdue (11/30).

Season: Started all 13 games ... Graded as the No. 5 linebacker in the Big Ten and No. 11 in Power 4 (82.6) per Pro Football Focus (min. 300 snaps) ... Made Indiana debut against FIU (8/31) in the season opener ... One of 27 transfer student-athletes to make Indiana debut in 2024 ... One of 17 transfers to make a start for IU in 2024 ... Part of a defense that set program bests for games holding an opponent under 100-yards rushing (8), fewest total yards rushing allowed (1,043), lowest opponent scoring average (15.6) and fewest yards of total offense (3,332) and total offense per game (256.3).

FIU (8/31): Made Indiana debut ... Posted eight tackles ... Ranked tied for No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 8 in the Power 4 with six stops (tackles that resulted in an offensive failure) per Pro Football Focus ... Five of eight tackles came within 2 yards of the line of scrimmage ... All eight tackles came within 4 yards of the line of scrimmage. Western Illinois (9/6): Logged three stops ... Added one pass breakup ... Part of a defense that limited WIU to just 12 yards rushing, its fewest since holding Purdue to minus-8 yards rushing in 2001. at UCLA (9/14): Finished second on the team with seven tackles ... Logged a solo tackle for loss on second-and-goal on UCLA’s first drive of the third quarter to hold the Bruins to a field goal ... Part of a defense that help UCLA to under 100 yards rushing (96 yards) to mark the first time since 2001-02 that IU has limited three-straight opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing. Charlotte (9/21): Made five tackles ... Added one pass breakup ... Helped hold the 49ers to under 300-yards of total offense, the fourth straight game without allowing 300-plus yards of total offense - the longest such streak by an IU defense since at least 1996. Maryland (9/28): Had eight tackles with 1.0 tackles for loss ... Combined with D’Angelo Ponds on a second-quarter tackle for loss ... Teamed with AIden Fisher on a second-quarter sack of Billy Edwards Jr. ... Broke up one pass. at Northwestern (10/5): Had three solo tackles in the first half ... Missed second half due to injury. Nebraska (10/19): Helped the defense hold Nebraska to just 70 yards rushing to mark the fifth opponent held under 100 yards rushing on the year ... Made six tackles ... Forced a fumble that was recovered by Jacob Mangum-Farrar in the first quarter that led to IU’s first touchdown of the game ... Logged solo tackle for loss in the third quarter. Washington (10/26): Posted eight stops ... Added one pass breakup. at Michigan State (10/26): Part of a defense that held Michigan State to a program-record minus-36 rushing yards in the game ... Posted four tackles ... Added one pass breakup. Michigan (11/9): Defense held its seventh opponent under 100-yards rushing with just 69 yards allowed on the ground ... The unit held an opposing offense to less than 300-yards of total offense for the sixth time in 2024 ... Posted seven tackles ... Broke up a pass on third-and-5 near midfield to end Michigan’s final drive of the first half with 1:28 remaining ... Made a solo tackle for loss in the fourth quarter. at Ohio State (11/23): Led the team with eight tackles ... Posted a second-quarter interception to end an Ohio State drive in the red zone ... Added a first-quarter tackle for loss. Purdue (11/30): Part of a defense that help Purdue to a program-low 67 yards of total offense ... Limited the Boilermakers to just 13 yards rushing to mark the eighth opponent in 2024 held under 100 yards rushing ... Highest-graded linebacker in the FBS (94.1) in Week 14 per Pro Football Focus ... Produced five stops - all going for a loss ... Totaled 1.5 sacks ... Intercepted Hudson Card in the first quarter ... Forced a fumble that was recovered by Lanell Carr Jr. in the fourth quarter which led to an IU touchdown ... Combined with Mikail Kamara on a third-quarter sack ... Added a solo sack in the third quarter ... Chipped in two pass breakups. at Notre Dame (12/20): Piled up 10 tackles ... Chipped in 1.0 tackles for loss ... Added a forced fumble in the first quarter that was recovered by Notre Dame ... Recovered a blocked field goal and returned it 3 yards ... Combined with Amare Ferrell on a second-quarter tackle for loss ... Made a tackle for loss with CJ West in the fourth quarter.

2023 (Junior Season - James Madison)
Awards: Earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference.

Season: Started 10 games … Missed three games due to injury (9/16-30).

Bucknell (9/2): Chipped in five tackles … Assisted on two tackles for loss … Combined on a third-quarter sack. at Virginia (9/9): Logged four tackles. Georgia Southern (10/14): Made five stops – four solo – and added two pass breakups. at Marshall (10/19): Posted second career double-digit tackle game with 10 tackles … Posted 2.0 tackles for loss … Had a solo sack and forced a fumble on the play that was recovered by JMU … Forced a fumble in the first quarter that was recovered by JMU. Old Dominion (10/28): Made eight tackles … Had an assisted tackle for loss. at Georgia State (11/4): Posted seven tackles … First tackle was a solo tackle for loss in the first quarter. UConn (11/11): Posted six tackles with one pass breakup. Appalachian State (11/18): Notched six tackles – all solo … Added one pass breakup. at Coastal Carolina (11/25): Chipped in four tackles – all solo … Added a force fumble in the third quarter that was recovered by JMU. vs. Air Force (12/23): Made six tackles … Posted fourth-quarter solo tackle for loss.

2022 (Sophomore Season - James Madison)
Awards: Earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference.

Season: Appeared in and started 10 games … First collegiate start came against Middle Tennessee (9/3) in the season opener … Did not appear at Louisville (11/5) … Accounted for two defensive touchdowns: interception return for a score against Texas State (10/1) and at Old Dominion (11/12) … First career interception came at Appalachian State (9/24).

Middle Tennessee (9/3): Piled up nine tackles … Logged a solo tackle for loss. Norfolk State (9/10): Had five tackles. at Appalachian State (9/24): Chipped in four stops … Pulled in first career interception and returned it 22 yards. Texas State (10/1): Made seven tackles … Intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter … Added one pass breakup. at Arkansas State (10/8): Totaled six tackles … Had a third-quarter solo sack to force a ASU field goal … Broke up two passes. at Georgia Southern (10/15): Made nine tackles – five solo – with one pass breakup. Marshall (10/22): Had two stops … Assisted on a tackle for loss. at Old Dominion (11/12): Made six tackles … Returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter … Added one pass breakup. Georgia State (11/19): Totaled five tackles … Assisted on one tackle for loss. Coastal Carolina (11/26): Notched first career double-digit tackle game with 10 stops.

2021 (Freshman Season - James Madison)
Season: Appeared in 11 games … Made collegiate debut against Morehead State (9/4) and logged first career sack … Did not appear in three games (9/18-10/9) … First career forced fumble came versus Campbell (11/6).

Morehead State (9/4): Chipped in first two career tackles … First collegiate tackle for loss was a fourth-quarter sack. Maine (9/11): Posted one stop. at Richmond (10/16): Logged two tackles. at Delaware (10/23): Made threes stops. Elon (10/30): Had one tackle. Campbell (11/6): Totaled five tackles … Forced first career fumble in the fourth quarter. at William & Mary (11/13): Chipped in two tackles. Towson (11/20): Made two stops. Montana (12/10): Posted first career pass breakup.

Prep/Personal
Linebacker and running back for head coach Marcus Lewis at Varina High School … Helped VHS to the Virginia High School League Region Class 5B title and berth in the Class 5A state semifinals … Totaled 60 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, two recovered fumbles and one interception as a junior … Rushed for nine touchdowns on offense … Also lettered in track and field … Graduated No. 21 in his class at VHS academically … Son of Jaimmie Walker and Nicole Lightfoot … Has one brother, Jaivon, and one sister, India … Brother, Jaivon, was a United States Collegiate Athletic Conference All-American as a sophomore at The Apprentice School.