Michigan State University Athletics
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Kenneth Walker III Named Semifinalist for Doak Walker Award
11/17/2021 6:25:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State junior running back Kenneth Walker III has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Wednesday afternoon. The award is presented annually to the nation's premier running back.
Walker III continues to lead the FBS in rushing, averaging 147.3 yards per game. He has led the nation in rushing for all but one week of the 2021 season. He also leads the FBS in total rushing yards (1,473), rushing touchdowns (17), yards after contact (1,068), 20-plus yard carries (19) and 10-plus yard carries (40).
In addition, Walker ranks among the FBS leaders in yards from scrimmage (third with 155.8 ypg), scoring (second with 10.8 ppg), total touchdowns (second with 18), total points (second with 108), all-purpose yards (fifth with 155.8 ypg) and yards per carry (11th with 6.49 avg.).
Through 10 games, Walker has collected an FBS-leading 1,473 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). Walker's 17 TDs are sixth most in an MSU season and his 1,473 rushing yards are eighth most.
One of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Walker was named a first-team midseason All-American by The Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, The Athletic and The Sporting News.
Walker has seven 100-yard rushing games this season, including two 200-yard games (264 vs. Northwestern on Sept. 3; 172 at Miami on Sept. 18; 126 vs. Western Kentucky on Sept. 25; 233 at Rutgers on Oct. 9; 197 vs. Michigan on Oct. 30; 136 at Purdue on Nov. 6; 143 vs. Maryland on Nov. 13).
Walker carried the ball a career-high 30 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns (1 yard in second quarter; 3 yards in fourth quarter) in the 40-21 win over Maryland on Nov. 13. He also finished with 173 all-purpose yards (143 rushing, 29 receiving), marking the sixth time he has collected 150-plus all-purpose yards in a game this season.
Following a record-breaking performance in the 37-33 win over No. 6 Michigan on Oct. 30, Walker III collected several honors, including National Offensive Player of the Week (Walter Camp Football Foundation, Maxwell Award, The Athletic) and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. 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.). 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. He also had 208 all-purpose yards (197 rushing, 11 receiving). The five TDs 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 first carry against Michigan was for 8 yards, putting him over the 1,000-mark for the season. He became the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 yards in terms of carries in MSU history (153 carries; previous, Javon Ringer in 2007 with 154).
Walker's 94-yard touchdown run in the third quarter at Rutgers was the longest rush in the 125-year history of Michigan State football, bettering a 90-yard by Lynn Chandnois vs. Arizona in 1949. It was also the longest offensive play from scrimmage in school history, topping the 93-yard pass from Tony Banks to Nigea Carter vs. Indiana in 1994. Walker's 94-yard TD run is also tied for the fifth-longest rush in the FBS in 2021.
Walker had a record-setting debut as a Spartan, rushing for a career-high 264 yards – the seventh-highest total in school history – while scoring a career-high four touchdowns to lead the Spartans past Northwestern on Sept. 3. It marked the most rushing yards by a Spartan in a debut wearing the Green and White and the fourth most by a player in the FBS this season. Walker became just the second Spartan to record more than 250 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the same game (Eric Allen, school-record 350 yards and four TDs vs. Purdue on Oct. 30, 1971).
ABOUT THE DOAK WALKER AWARD
The Award is named after three-time SMU All-America running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. Walker, who also punted, returned kicks and kicked extra points, led the Mustangs to two Southwest Conference Championships. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and led the league in scoring his rookie year. During his six years with the Lions, he led the team to two NFL championships and was chosen All-Pro four times. Walker is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
To determine the 2021 finalists, members of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast their votes. Three finalists for the award will be named Tuesday, Nov. 23. The Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast a second vote to select the 2021 award recipient. The 2021 Doak Walker Award recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 9, 2021 on ESPN.
Walker III continues to lead the FBS in rushing, averaging 147.3 yards per game. He has led the nation in rushing for all but one week of the 2021 season. He also leads the FBS in total rushing yards (1,473), rushing touchdowns (17), yards after contact (1,068), 20-plus yard carries (19) and 10-plus yard carries (40).
In addition, Walker ranks among the FBS leaders in yards from scrimmage (third with 155.8 ypg), scoring (second with 10.8 ppg), total touchdowns (second with 18), total points (second with 108), all-purpose yards (fifth with 155.8 ypg) and yards per carry (11th with 6.49 avg.).
Through 10 games, Walker has collected an FBS-leading 1,473 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). Walker's 17 TDs are sixth most in an MSU season and his 1,473 rushing yards are eighth most.
One of 15 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Walker was named a first-team midseason All-American by The Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, The Athletic and The Sporting News.
Walker has seven 100-yard rushing games this season, including two 200-yard games (264 vs. Northwestern on Sept. 3; 172 at Miami on Sept. 18; 126 vs. Western Kentucky on Sept. 25; 233 at Rutgers on Oct. 9; 197 vs. Michigan on Oct. 30; 136 at Purdue on Nov. 6; 143 vs. Maryland on Nov. 13).
Walker carried the ball a career-high 30 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns (1 yard in second quarter; 3 yards in fourth quarter) in the 40-21 win over Maryland on Nov. 13. He also finished with 173 all-purpose yards (143 rushing, 29 receiving), marking the sixth time he has collected 150-plus all-purpose yards in a game this season.
Following a record-breaking performance in the 37-33 win over No. 6 Michigan on Oct. 30, Walker III collected several honors, including National Offensive Player of the Week (Walter Camp Football Foundation, Maxwell Award, The Athletic) and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. 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.). 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. He also had 208 all-purpose yards (197 rushing, 11 receiving). The five TDs 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 first carry against Michigan was for 8 yards, putting him over the 1,000-mark for the season. He became the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 yards in terms of carries in MSU history (153 carries; previous, Javon Ringer in 2007 with 154).
Walker's 94-yard touchdown run in the third quarter at Rutgers was the longest rush in the 125-year history of Michigan State football, bettering a 90-yard by Lynn Chandnois vs. Arizona in 1949. It was also the longest offensive play from scrimmage in school history, topping the 93-yard pass from Tony Banks to Nigea Carter vs. Indiana in 1994. Walker's 94-yard TD run is also tied for the fifth-longest rush in the FBS in 2021.
Walker had a record-setting debut as a Spartan, rushing for a career-high 264 yards – the seventh-highest total in school history – while scoring a career-high four touchdowns to lead the Spartans past Northwestern on Sept. 3. It marked the most rushing yards by a Spartan in a debut wearing the Green and White and the fourth most by a player in the FBS this season. Walker became just the second Spartan to record more than 250 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the same game (Eric Allen, school-record 350 yards and four TDs vs. Purdue on Oct. 30, 1971).
ABOUT THE DOAK WALKER AWARD
The Award is named after three-time SMU All-America running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. Walker, who also punted, returned kicks and kicked extra points, led the Mustangs to two Southwest Conference Championships. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and led the league in scoring his rookie year. During his six years with the Lions, he led the team to two NFL championships and was chosen All-Pro four times. Walker is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
To determine the 2021 finalists, members of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast their votes. Three finalists for the award will be named Tuesday, Nov. 23. The Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast a second vote to select the 2021 award recipient. The 2021 Doak Walker Award recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 9, 2021 on ESPN.
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