Big man on campus: Dallas Walker IV handles 'dirty work' for Auburn D-line

AUBURN, Ala. – A family man with a work ethic to match his size, it’s no surprise that Dallas Walker IV found a home at Auburn.

In his second season on the Plains and his last year of college football, the 6-foot-3, 345-pound defensive tackle has started all seven games for Auburn, making 19 tackles including a season-best five at Tennessee. 

After starring at Smyrna High School in Nashville, Tennessee, Walker visited Auburn before signing with Texas A&M, where he played two games in two seasons before sitting out in 2022 after the birth of his son, Demani, in September 2021.  

“He’s a character,” Walker said of his now 5-year-old, who wears an Auburn hat to Jordan-Hare Stadium to cheer for his dad. “Very smart, very energetic and he’s always happy. I enjoy having him around.”

After the gap year, Walker transferred to Western Kentucky, where he played two seasons, earning an opportunity to return to the SEC after making 49 tackles, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and an interception in 2024.

“Coming here and learning,” Walker said. “I really enjoy the family aspect of Auburn football. The fanbase, the town, wherever you go, you feel like you’re family. Everyone communicates with each other. I like coming out here, grinding, and the competition to play in the SEC.”

After playing all 12 games last season, Walker earned a starting role this year. 

“I’ve seen him grow so much as a leader in that room,” Auburn defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams said. “We’ve had this conversation: ‘You’ve been here, you know what the standard is to play on this defensive line. This is your room, take hold of it and make it be what you want it to be.’ He’s done that and he’s grown in it.”

An NCAA waiver paved the way for Walker to play in his seventh season after high school, thanks to a COVID year, a redshirt and the season he sat out. 

“It’s been fun to see his maturation and seeing how he’s helping those young guys grow,” King-Williams said. “He’s a great kid and he has a why. His why is real. He has a family at home. He’s been awesome.”

Weighing 12 pounds and 4 ounces at birth, DW4 has been big since day one. At 315 pounds in high school, Walker played both ways, including tight end, where he caught a dozen passes and scored two touchdowns. 

“I’ve always liked having the ball in my hands,” he said. “In the younger leagues, when you’re a certain weight and size, they don’t give you the ball. I’ve always wanted to have the ball in my hands. It was really fun to catch passes and score touchdowns.”

Walker still envisions having the ball in his hands. A scoop-and-score, he says, would be epic.

“Crazy, legendary,” he said. “I’d probably remember it forever. Sometimes I have dreams like, maybe today is the day.” 

For now, Walker would settle for his first collegiate sack.

“I’m still striving for it,” he said. “I’m praying to get that opportunity and make the most of It.”

Walker’s primary contribution comes in running situations, taking on double teams to free up teammates. 

“It goes unnoticed a lot but it’s a very important job,” Walker said. “Especially with double teams, trying not to get much movement, owning your gap and giving space for the linebackers to scrape. I feel like the D-line and the linebackers play very well together when it comes to knowing each other’s jobs and feeding off them.

“If I’m getting a double block, I know they’re free to make a play. If I’m getting a single block, I know I can come off and make a play. I really enjoy doing the dirty work. That’s one of the things that makes me love D-line. The contact every single play.”

“Dallas is a run stopper,” King-Williams said. “Surprisingly enough, he’s pretty athletic. You’ll see him some in pass rush situations, making moves and making it hard for the offensive line.”

Walker helped the Auburn defense limit Georgia in the Tigers’ 27-24 road victory over the top-ranked Bulldogs, the highlight so far of his time on the Plains.

“It was huge,” he said. “We all believed as a team even though a lot of people might not have believed it. It felt good to play how we were capable of playing all along and to put everything together. It’s been great.”

This week, Auburn gets another chance for a signature road win at No. 12 Ole Miss against Heisman candidate quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. 

“It’s a huge opportunity,” Walker said. “He’s a great quarterback and they have a great program. They play physical, they play fast. It will be very exciting to compete with those guys and show everything we’ve been working on, display everything, come together as a team and execute.”

After earning an interdisciplinary studies degree, Walker has short-term and long-term aspirations. 

“The plan is to go to the NFL,” he said. “After football, I want to open a youth sports program. I got my degree in parks and recreation, and sports management, so I want to use that to have a program for youth football, baseball and basketball. I want to run my own rec.”

His grandfather, Dallas Walker Jr., grew up in Montgomery and pastored a church in Detroit for nearly a half century. His father, Dallas Walker III, was once stationed at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama. 

For Dallas Walker IV, coming to Auburn continues a family tradition in the same state.

“I’m a hard worker and I love showing up to work every day,” he said, “and I love my family.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer