When Dallas Walker IV saw his head coach’s name pop up on his phone Tuesday, he had a feeling it was going to be good news. And it was more than that-it was the kind of news that can shift the tone of an offseason.
Auburn head coach Alex Golesh called to let Walker know his waiver for an extra year of eligibility had been approved. That means Walker is officially coming back for the 2026 season, and for a Tigers defensive line that’s been hit hard by departures, that’s a big deal.
“He was almost teary-eyed last night in my office,” Golesh said Wednesday during Senior Bowl practice. “Really excited about getting back to work.”
And who can blame him? For months, Walker had been in limbo.
He stayed enrolled at Auburn, kept working out at the school’s rec center, and waited. Now, with the waiver in hand, he returns not just as a body up front-but as a veteran presence in a room that needs one.
Walker’s journey to this moment hasn’t followed a straight line. He began his college career at Texas A&M back in 2020, during the COVID-impacted season that granted all Division I fall athletes an extra year of eligibility.
He saw limited action in 2021, then sat out the 2022 season entirely. From there, it was off to Western Kentucky for two seasons before landing at Auburn in 2025.
So yes, 2026 will be Walker’s seventh year in college football-but he’s only played in four of those seasons. That kind of timeline is rare, but it also means Walker brings a depth of experience that can’t be taught in a single offseason.
And Auburn needs that. The Tigers are losing the bulk of their defensive line rotation from 2025, and Walker is the only returning player who logged consistent snaps last season. That makes his return not just helpful-it’s foundational.
“I think anytime you can add somebody that’s played in your defense,” Golesh said, “especially somebody that as the year went on, at the end of the year, kind of became a leader in a lot of ways up front, I think it’s absolutely huge.”
Walker is one of just three returning interior defensive linemen for Auburn heading into 2026, joining Malik Autry and Jourdin Crawford-both of whom were freshmen last season. In his first year with the Tigers, Walker posted 13 tackles and forced a fumble.
The stat line doesn’t jump off the page, but his impact went beyond the numbers. He became a steadying force in the trenches, a guy who understood the scheme and played with purpose.
And now, he’s back to anchor a group that’s going to need leadership as much as talent.
“I know Coach Vontrell [King-Williams] is really excited. I know DJ [Durkin] is really excited,” Golesh said. “And I’m excited to get a guy that’s got leadership ability that’s about the right things to come back.”
For Auburn, it’s a much-needed win in the trenches. For Dallas Walker IV, it’s one more chance to finish a college football journey that’s been anything but ordinary-on his terms.