Michigan State University Athletics
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Kenneth Walker III Named Finalist for Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards
11/23/2021 3:36:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State junior running back Kenneth Walker III has been named one of three finalists for both for the Maxwell Award and the Doak Walker Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The winners of the awards will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN's Rece Davis will host the two-hour special, joined by analysts Dusty Dvoracek and Desmond Howard, with reporter Jen Lada.
The Maxwell Award has presented annually to the college player of the year since 1937. Quarterback Bryce Young of Alabama and quarterback Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh are the two other finalists. Walker is looking to become just the second Spartan to win the Maxwell Award; MSU All-American safety Brad Van Pelt became the first defensive back to ever win the prestigious award in 1972.
The Doak Walker Award has presented annually to the nation's premier running back since 1990. Tyler Badie of Missouri and Breece Hall of Iowa State are the two other finalists. Walker becomes the third Doak Walker finalist in program history (Tico Duckett, 1990; Javon Ringer, 2008).
A product of Arlington, Tennessee, Walker ranks second in the FBS in rushing, averaging 136.2 yards per game. He has led the FBS in rushing for all but two weeks of the season.
Walker also leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (first with 1,090), 20-plus yard carries (first with 19) and missed forced tackles (first with 81), and also ranks among the nation's leaders in total rushing yards (second with 1,498), 10-plus yard carries (tied for third with 42), total touchdowns (third with 18), rushing touchdowns (fourth with 17), yards from scrimmage (fourth with 144.3 ypg), all-purpose yards (seventh with 144.3 ypg) and yards per carry (eighth with 6.43).
Through 11 games, Walker has collected 1,498 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 rushing TDs are sixth most in an MSU season and his 1,498 rushing yards are sixth most.
Walker was named a first-team midseason All-American by The Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, The Athletic and The Sporting News. He 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 94-yard touchdown run in the third quarter at Rutgers on Oct. 9 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 finished with 233 rushing yards against the Scarlet Knights.
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 fifth 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 MAXWELL AWARD
The Maxwell Award was founded in 1937. The award is named after Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a Swarthmore College football player, coach, and sportswriter. The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 by his friend, Bert Bell, to present awards in his name to promote football safety.
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.
The winners of the awards will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN's Rece Davis will host the two-hour special, joined by analysts Dusty Dvoracek and Desmond Howard, with reporter Jen Lada.
K9 is a @TheMaxwellAward finalist #K9ForHeisman pic.twitter.com/e9NRVLR9zY
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 23, 2021
The Maxwell Award has presented annually to the college player of the year since 1937. Quarterback Bryce Young of Alabama and quarterback Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh are the two other finalists. Walker is looking to become just the second Spartan to win the Maxwell Award; MSU All-American safety Brad Van Pelt became the first defensive back to ever win the prestigious award in 1972.
The Doak Walker Award has presented annually to the nation's premier running back since 1990. Tyler Badie of Missouri and Breece Hall of Iowa State are the two other finalists. Walker becomes the third Doak Walker finalist in program history (Tico Duckett, 1990; Javon Ringer, 2008).
K9 is a @DoakWalkerAward finalist #K9ForHeisman pic.twitter.com/xrTSDO73ld
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 23, 2021
A product of Arlington, Tennessee, Walker ranks second in the FBS in rushing, averaging 136.2 yards per game. He has led the FBS in rushing for all but two weeks of the season.
Walker also leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (first with 1,090), 20-plus yard carries (first with 19) and missed forced tackles (first with 81), and also ranks among the nation's leaders in total rushing yards (second with 1,498), 10-plus yard carries (tied for third with 42), total touchdowns (third with 18), rushing touchdowns (fourth with 17), yards from scrimmage (fourth with 144.3 ypg), all-purpose yards (seventh with 144.3 ypg) and yards per carry (eighth with 6.43).
Through 11 games, Walker has collected 1,498 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 rushing TDs are sixth most in an MSU season and his 1,498 rushing yards are sixth most.
Walker was named a first-team midseason All-American by The Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, The Athletic and The Sporting News. He 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 94-yard touchdown run in the third quarter at Rutgers on Oct. 9 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 finished with 233 rushing yards against the Scarlet Knights.
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 fifth 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 MAXWELL AWARD
The Maxwell Award was founded in 1937. The award is named after Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a Swarthmore College football player, coach, and sportswriter. The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 by his friend, Bert Bell, to present awards in his name to promote football safety.
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.
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