Travon Walker is from Thomaston, Georgia, but also calls Jacksonville and Northeast Florida home since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 NFL Draft. Not only has he made an impact on the field, but he has also strived to do his part to make an impact off the field as well by starting the Travon Walker Foundation following his rookie season.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I’m from a small town called Thomaston in Georgia, which has a population of just over 7,000, so my whole community basically helped raise me and they poured everything they had into me and rallied behind the kids.
To have people like that in your life and career to push you is everything.
The textile mill is the main job for a lot of people in my town and it is made up of people that know what it means to work hard for what they want.
One of the main things about growing up in a small community like that is that you learn that it takes a village and without all that support over the years I wouldn’t be where I’m at.
Was football always a passion of yours?
My first love was basketball and it always just came easily for me, and I also ran track in high school.
But God, family and football have always been at the root of everything for me. That’s what it has always been all about.
My high school team won 73 straight games, and I’m not sure but I think it may still be the record today.
Without the hard work and commitment over the years, there wouldn’t be any of the success I’ve had and I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.
What are the goals of your foundation?
We want to be there to provide a leadership role for the kids and to remind them to be where their feet are, because it’s important to not get too far ahead and just focus on where you’re at that specific time.
Whatever it is they are involved with, we want them to remember to attack it and go after their dreams and that goes for anything in life.
You can go a long way if you have this approach.
What are your plans for the future of the Travon Walker Foundation?
It’s the little things that make all the difference, and to see the smiles on the faces of those the foundation helps is everything.
Jacksonville is the next place I want to spread this love and joy to, since that has become another home for me.
I have high hopes and just want to keeping helping as much as we can. I am excited to see the number of communities we are involved in over the next 10 to 15 years.
Do you ever find yourself looking back at all that you’ve accomplished and your journey to this point?
I’d be lying if I said I don’t look back on it and think who would have ever thought I’d be where I’m at.
It has been even more than I could have imagined. To be a No. 1 draft pick and have the chance to play in the NFL, I’m just truly blessed is all I can think about every time.
But I also know that I’m not where I want to be yet, and that there’s so much more potential out there to even further have an impact.
At the end of day, I’m just trying to be the best man and family man possible.
What do you enjoy most about living in the North Florida area?
I don’t see how anyone couldn’t love Jacksonville.
It’s all about the scenary for me, because I’m all about a clear mind and nothing helps that better than the natural sights you can find around here.
I’m a country boy at heart, so I like fishing and all that kind of stuff as well.
