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Mizzou tackle Armand Membou says Johnny Walker Jr. deserved NFL Combine spot
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Mizzou is lightly represented at the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis. Quarterback Brady Cook was joined by teammates Luther Burden III, Theo Wease Jr., and Armand Membou at the annual scouting event. Membou told reporters on Saturday at least one more former Mizzou standout should have made the trip.
Defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. didn’t get an invite. Membou believes that was an oversight.
“Johnny used to kill me,” Membou said. “He’s very slept on. Really good pass-rusher, has a great cross-chop, long arms.”
Cook also said the same thing on Friday.
“I wish he was here,” he said. “(Walker) had an unbelievable year.”
Walker does not appear in Mel Kiper Jr.’s ranking of the 10 best defensive ends in the 2025 NFL Draft class. But the 6-foot-3 Tampa native was extremely productive in 2024.
Appearing in all 13 games, Walker posted 44 tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 pass breakup. He ranked 13th in the SEC in TFLs and fourth in sacks. Walker also ranked fifth among all SEC players in total quarterback pressures, per PFF. He had 50 on the season.
And he closed the season on the right note. After the Music City Bowl win over Iowa, head coach Eli Drinkwitz revealed that Walker played through an injury.
“He’s got an injury. And I thought he wouldn’t play,” Drinkwitz said. “In fact, I told him if he was my son I wouldn’t let him play. But he said, ‘No, I want to play. And we’ll get it fixed afterwards if we have to get it fixed and if not we’ll keep going.’
“And for him to play four quarters tonight, on an injury, when he could have said, ‘Nah, I’m going to tap out, I’m going to go get ready for the draft and the combine and the East-West Shrine Game,’ man, you just don’t have that as much anymore. I love you buddy.”
In his final game for Mizzou, Walker had 2 sacks.
Walker ended his 4-year Mizzou career with 26 career TFLs, 18.5 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles. After spending his first 2 years in a reserve role, Walker broke out in 2023 and was a major piece of back-to-back 10-win seasons.
Prior to 2023, the program had won 10 games or more in consecutive seasons only once in Mizzou history.
Walker had a strong showing at the East-West Shrine Bowl, earning a shoutout from NFL Network’s Chad Reuter. He’ll look to impress scouts during Mizzou’s Pro Day on March 21.
Related: Sports betting launches in the state of Missouri later this year. Stay up to day on everything you need to know ahead of launch with our guide to the best Missouri betting promos.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
