JaQuavian Jy'Quese "Quay" Walker (born May 8, 2000) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and typically line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and so back up the defensive linemen. They play closer to the line ...

for the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Georgia Bulldogs The Georgia Bulldogs are the College athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in NCAA Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The offic ...

and was selected by the Packers in the first round of the

2022 NFL draft The 2022 NFL draft was the 87th edition of the National Football League's annual NFL draft, draft and was held from April 28–30, 2022, at the Caesars Forum on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, Paradise next to Las Vegas. The first round ...

Early life

Walker was born on May 8, 2000, in

Cordele, Georgia Cordele is a city in and the county seat of Crisp County, Georgia. The population was 11,165 at the 2010 census, and 10,220 in 2020. Cordele calls itself the watermelon capital of the world. History 19th century Cordele was incorporated on ...

. He attended

Crisp County High School Crisp County High School is a public high school located in Cordele, Georgia, United States. The school is part of the Crisp County School District, which serves Crisp County. Notable alumni * Bernard Ford, former professional football player * ...

, where he had 109 tackles, eight sacks, and an interception as a junior. Walker was rated a four-star recruit and initially committed to play

for the

Alabama Crimson Tide The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the Na ...

before his senior year in 2017, but changed to Georgia in early 2018.

College career

Walker played in all 14 of Georgia's games during his freshman season and had six total tackles. He saw increased playing time as a sophomore and finished the season with 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Walker finished as Georgia's fourth-leading tackler with 43 in his junior season.

Professional career

2022

Walker was selected by the

in the first round (22nd overall) of the

. The Packers previously acquired the pick in a trade that sent

Davante Adams Davante Lavell Adams (born December 24, 1992) is an American professional American football, football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played two seasons of college football for the Fresno State Bu ...

to the

Las Vegas Raiders The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West ...

. On May 6, 2022, he signed his rookie contract. Walker was ejected in week 8 against the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

after an altercation with Bills'

practice squad In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...

tight end Zach Davidson, following a play where Walker made a tackle on the Bills sideline. In week 11, during a 40–33 loss to the

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...

, Walker scooped up a fumble forced by teammate

Rudy Ford Johnathan "Rudy" Ford (born November 1, 1994) is an American professional football safety. He played college football at Auburn, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has also played for the Phila ...

on Eagles wide receiver

A. J. Brown Arthur Juan Brown (born June 30, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and was selected by the Tennessee Tit ...

and returned it 63 yards to put the Packers in scoring position. Walker was ejected a second time in week 18 against the

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...

after shoving a member of the Lions medical staff, becoming the only player since the

2000 NFL season The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League (NFL). The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants, 34–7, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Week 1 of ...

to be ejected more than once in a single season. Walker played all 17 games in his rookie campaign, finishing the season with a team-high 121 total tackles (75 solo, 46 assisted). He also recorded a team-high three forced fumbles, as well as 1.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

2023

On September 10, 2023, during a 38–20 win over the

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

, Walker intercepted a pass from

Justin Fields Justin Skyler Fields (born March 5, 1999) is an American professional football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Following a stint with the Georgia Bulldogs, he played college football for the Ohio State B ...

and returned it 37 yards for his first NFL touchdown. In the 2023 season, Walker appeared in 14 games. He had 2.5 sacks, 118 tackles, one interception, and three passes defended.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Postseason

References

External links

Green Bay Packers bio

Georgia Bulldogs bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Quay 2000 births Living people People from Cordele, Georgia Players of American football from Crisp County, Georgia American football linebackers Georgia Bulldogs football players Green Bay Packers players