Michigan State University Athletics
Kenneth Walker III Named Semifinalist for Maxwell Award, Earns Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Honors
11/1/2021 9:01:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – A day after being named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week, junior running back Kenneth Walker III picked up Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday for the second time this season. He was also named one of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday. In addition, Walker earned national offensive player of the week accolades from The Athletic.
Walker rushed for five touchdowns, the most by any player ever against the Wolverines, and finished with a total of 197 yards on just 23 carries (8.6 avg.) in MSU's 37-33 victory over then-No. 6 Michigan on Oct. 30. His scores came on runs of 27 and 8 yards in the second quarter, 1 yard in the third quarter, and 58 and 23 yards in the fourth quarter. With MSU trailing 33-30, Walker broke loose for a game-winning 23-yard touchdown with 5:08 remaining to hand the Wolverines their first loss of the season.
The five rushing TDs also tied for the second most in school history (record: six by Blake Ezor vs. Northwestern in 1989; five by Javon Ringer vs. Eastern Michigan in 2008). Walker's 197 rushing yards were the third most by a Spartan against Michigan (T.J. Duckett with 211 yards in 2001; DeAndra Cobb with 205 in 2004).
Walker's first carry of the game was for 8 yards, putting him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season, making him the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 yards in a season in terms of carries in MSU history (153 carries; previous, Javon Ringer in 2007 with 154).
Walker continues to lead the FBS in rushing, averaging 149.2 yards per game. He also ranks among the FBS leaders in total rushing yards (second with 1,194), rushing touchdowns (third with 14), scoring (third with 11.2 ppg), total touchdowns (third with 15), total points (fourth with 90), all-purpose yards (fifth with 153.8 ypg) and yards per carry (ninth with 6.8 avg.). According to Pro Football Focus, Walker leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (896) and is fourth with 31 carries of 10-plus yards.
A product of Arlington, Tennessee, Walker has five 100-yard rushing games this season (career-high 264 vs. Northwestern in Week 1; 172 vs. No. 24 Miami in Week 3; 126 vs. Western Kentucky in Week 5; 233 vs. Rutgers in Week 6).
Walker rushed for five touchdowns, the most by any player ever against the Wolverines, and finished with a total of 197 yards on just 23 carries (8.6 avg.) in MSU's 37-33 victory over then-No. 6 Michigan on Oct. 30. His scores came on runs of 27 and 8 yards in the second quarter, 1 yard in the third quarter, and 58 and 23 yards in the fourth quarter. With MSU trailing 33-30, Walker broke loose for a game-winning 23-yard touchdown with 5:08 remaining to hand the Wolverines their first loss of the season.
The five rushing TDs also tied for the second most in school history (record: six by Blake Ezor vs. Northwestern in 1989; five by Javon Ringer vs. Eastern Michigan in 2008). Walker's 197 rushing yards were the third most by a Spartan against Michigan (T.J. Duckett with 211 yards in 2001; DeAndra Cobb with 205 in 2004).
Walker's first carry of the game was for 8 yards, putting him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season, making him the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 yards in a season in terms of carries in MSU history (153 carries; previous, Javon Ringer in 2007 with 154).
Walker continues to lead the FBS in rushing, averaging 149.2 yards per game. He also ranks among the FBS leaders in total rushing yards (second with 1,194), rushing touchdowns (third with 14), scoring (third with 11.2 ppg), total touchdowns (third with 15), total points (fourth with 90), all-purpose yards (fifth with 153.8 ypg) and yards per carry (ninth with 6.8 avg.). According to Pro Football Focus, Walker leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (896) and is fourth with 31 carries of 10-plus yards.
A product of Arlington, Tennessee, Walker has five 100-yard rushing games this season (career-high 264 vs. Northwestern in Week 1; 172 vs. No. 24 Miami in Week 3; 126 vs. Western Kentucky in Week 5; 233 vs. Rutgers in Week 6).
.@Kenneth_Walker9 has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award 🏆 #K9ForHeisman pic.twitter.com/fp5S89i1ii— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 1, 2021
Congrats to @Kenneth_Walker9 on being named the @B1Gfootball Offensive Player of the Week #K9ForHeisman pic.twitter.com/xUZD1LrsDZ— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 1, 2021
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