David Walker (linebacker)

David Walker (born June 3, 2000)^[1] is an American professional football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Arkansas Muleriders and Central Arkansas Bears and was selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft.

David Walker

No. 51 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(2000-06-03) June 3, 2000 (age 25) Stuttgart, Arkansas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	263 lb (119 kg)
Career information
High school:	Stuttgart (AR)
College:	Southern Arkansas (2020–2021) Central Arkansas (2022–2024)
NFL draft:	2025: 4th round, 121st pick
Career history
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2025–present)
Roster status:	Reserved/injured
Career highlights and awards
Buck Buchanan Award (2024) First-team FCS All-American (2024)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Walker attended Stuttgart High School in Stuttgart, Arkansas.^[2]

College career

Walker attended Southern Arkansas University in 2020 and 2021 before transferring to Central Arkansas University.^[3] He played at Central Arkansas from 2022 to 2024. He plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now. As a senior in 2024, he won the Buck Buchanan Award after recording 68 tackles and 10.5 sacks.^[4][5] In his three years at Central Arkansas, he had 191 tackles and 31 sacks.^[6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 0+7⁄8 in (1.85 m)	263 lb (119 kg)	31+7⁄8 in (0.81 m)	9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m)	4.69 s	1.65 s	2.74 s	4.39 s	7.15 s	35.0 in (0.89 m)	9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)	26 reps
All values from NFL Combine[7][8]

Walker was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round (121st pick) of the 2025 NFL draft.^[9] After tearing his ACL in training camp, the Buccaneers placed Walker on injured reserve on July 28, 2025.^[10]