Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Kenneth Walker III Named Semifinalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year
11/11/2021 3:59:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State junior running back Kenneth Walker III – the nation's leading rusher in both total yards (1,330) and yards per game (147.8) – has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced on Thursday afternoon.
The Walter Camp Player of the Year is voted on by the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. A list of five finalists will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 2, and the winner will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Walker continues to lead the FBS in rushing through games as of Nov. 6, averaging 147.8 yards per game. He also leads the FBS in total rushing yards (1,330), yards after contact (981) and 20-plus yard carries (16). In addition, Walker ranks among the FBS leaders in yards from scrimmage (third with 154.0 ypg), rushing touchdowns (third with 15), scoring (third with 10.7 ppg), total touchdowns (third with 16), total points (third with 96), 10-plus yard carries (fourth with 35), all-purpose yards (fifth with 154.0 ypg) and yards per carry (10th with 6.75 avg.).
Through just nine games, Walker has already collected an FBS-leading 1,330 rushing yards, the most by a Spartan since Jeremy Langford had 1,522 yards in 13 games in 2014. That was also the last time MSU had a 1,000-yard rusher. Walker was the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 yards in a single season in terms of carries (153 carries).
No. 7 MSU (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 13 to face Maryland (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) at 4 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.
2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalists
Will Anderson, Alabama, LB
Matt Corral, Ole Miss, QB
Jordan Davis, Georgia, DL
Jahan Dotson, Penn State, WR
Sam Hartman, Wake Forest, QB
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State, RB
Devin Lloyd, Utah, LB
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh, QB
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati, QB
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, QB
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DL, Oregon
Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State, RB
Caleb Williams, Oklahoma, QB
Bryce Young, Alabama, QB
Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky
ABOUT THE WALTER CAMP FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to 11 men per side.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA).
The Walter Camp Player of the Year is voted on by the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. A list of five finalists will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 2, and the winner will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Walker continues to lead the FBS in rushing through games as of Nov. 6, averaging 147.8 yards per game. He also leads the FBS in total rushing yards (1,330), yards after contact (981) and 20-plus yard carries (16). In addition, Walker ranks among the FBS leaders in yards from scrimmage (third with 154.0 ypg), rushing touchdowns (third with 15), scoring (third with 10.7 ppg), total touchdowns (third with 16), total points (third with 96), 10-plus yard carries (fourth with 35), all-purpose yards (fifth with 154.0 ypg) and yards per carry (10th with 6.75 avg.).
Through just nine games, Walker has already collected an FBS-leading 1,330 rushing yards, the most by a Spartan since Jeremy Langford had 1,522 yards in 13 games in 2014. That was also the last time MSU had a 1,000-yard rusher. Walker was the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 yards in a single season in terms of carries (153 carries).
No. 7 MSU (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 13 to face Maryland (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) at 4 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.
K9 is a @WalterCampFF Semifinalist 😤 #K9ForHeisman pic.twitter.com/AE69XS41et
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 11, 2021
2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalists
Will Anderson, Alabama, LB
Matt Corral, Ole Miss, QB
Jordan Davis, Georgia, DL
Jahan Dotson, Penn State, WR
Sam Hartman, Wake Forest, QB
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State, RB
Devin Lloyd, Utah, LB
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh, QB
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati, QB
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, QB
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DL, Oregon
Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State, RB
Caleb Williams, Oklahoma, QB
Bryce Young, Alabama, QB
Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky
ABOUT THE WALTER CAMP FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to 11 men per side.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA).
Players Mentioned
RB
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