Colts breakout candidates: Linebackers

We continue looking at possible breakout candidates and move on to the linebackers. This player is on the brink of a breakout campaign this season.

The linebackers have been historically a weak place on the Colts defense. They haven’t had a strong crop in years. That is slowly changing though. They drafted star Darius Leonard last year, and have a breakout star in the making in Anthony Walker.

Walker is the breakout candidate here. He might be the most important player on the entire defense this season. With Leonard being as good as he was right away, teams are going to scheme for him, leaving Walker more open to make plays.

If Walker can do that, then the Colts will have a stout defense. The defense played pretty well down the stretch last season until finally getting broken by the Chiefs. But they can be even better if Walker has a breakout season. He has the talent to do it.

Walker will have some competition pushing behind him as well. With Bobby Okereke being drafted, he needs to keep up his good play. Okereke will likely play on the outside with Leonard, but he could swing to the middle linebacker position that Walker currently occupies.

Expect Walker to have his best season as a pro. He has dealt with nagging injuries so far in his career, and if he can stay healthy he will be productive. That health is the key for him to kill it this season. It wold be shocking to not see him put up career numbers this year.