Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Kenneth Walker III Named Big Ten Running Back of the Year
12/1/2021 1:11:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State junior running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Kenneth Walker III has been named the Big Ten Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year, the conference announced on Wednesday afternoon. Walker is the first Spartan to win the award, which started in 2011 and is named after Wisconsin's Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne.
Walker was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team, a first for a Spartan running back since Le'Veon Bell in 2012.
Walker has led the Big Ten in rushing all season and currently leads the conference and ranks second in the FBS with 1,636 rushing yards (136.2 ypg). He leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (1,154), 20-plus yard carries (21) and missed forced tackles (89), and also ranks among the nation's leaders in 10-plus yard carries (tied for second with 46), total touchdowns (tied for fourth with 19), rushing touchdowns (tied for fifth with 18), yards from scrimmage (sixth with 143.8 ypg), all-purpose yards (eighth with 143.8 ypg) and yards per carry (14th with 6.2 avg.).
Eleven starters on Michigan State's offense, which ranked third in the Big Ten in scoring offense with 31.9 points per game, earned All-Big Ten recognition.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Jayden Reed garnered third-team accolades from both the coaches and media, while nine players earned honorable mention: C Matt Allen (coaches and media), OT AJ Arcuri (media), OG Blake Bueter (media), OG J.D. Duplain (media), TE Connor Heyward (coaches and media), OT Jarrett Horst (coaches and media), OG/OT Kevin Jarvis (media), WR Jalen Nailor (media) and QB Payton Thorne (coaches and media).
MICHIGAN STATE ALL-BIG TEN SELECTIONS – OFFENSE
COACHES
First Team: RB Kenneth Walker III
Third Team: WR Jayden Reed
Honorable Mention: C Matt Allen, TE Connor Heyward, OT Jarrett Horst, OG/OT Kevin Jarvis, QB Payton Thorne
MEDIA
First Team: RB Kenneth Walker III
Third Team: WR Jayden Reed
Honorable Mention: C Matt Allen, OT AJ Arcuri, OG Blake Bueter, OG J.D. Duplain, TE Connor Heyward, OT Jarrett Horst, OG/OT Kevin Jarvis, WR Jalen Nailor, QB Payton Thorne
Jr. RB Kenneth Walker III (first team, coaches and media)
Has led the Big Ten in rushing the entire 2021 season . . . leads Power 5 running backs and ranks second in FBS in rushing (1,636 yards; 136.3 ypg) . . . tied for first in Big Ten (fifth in FBS) with 18 rushing TDs and 19 overall TDs (fourth in FBS) . . . leads Big Ten in all-purpose yards with 143.8 yards per game (ninth in FBS) . . . Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award finalist . . . leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (1,154), 20-plus yard carries (21) and missed forced tackles (89) . . . named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice (vs. Northwestern and Michigan) . . . rushed for 197 yards and five TDs vs. Michigan on Oct. 30.
R-Jr. WR Jayden Reed (third team, coaches and media)
Ranks third in the Big Ten in yards per catch (17.8 avg.), fourth in receiving yards (946; 78.8 ypg) and ninth in receptions (53; 4.4 pg) . . . Paul Hornung Award finalist . . . also named second-team All-Big Ten as a return specialist . . . was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 62 yards for a score in the fourth quarter vs. Nebraska.
Sr.-6 C Matt Allen (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Has started all 12 games this season . . . has played in 43 career games, including 29 starts at center.
Sr.-6 OT AJ Arcuri (honorable mention, media)
Has started all 12 games this season . . . started first eight games at right tackle and last four games at left tackle . . . ranks fourth on the team with 649 offensive snaps . . . has played 39 career games, including 24 starting assignments.
Sr.-5 OG Blake Bueter (honorable mention, media)
Started the final four games at right guard and has played 477 offensive snaps in 12 games . . . has played in 41 career games with 15 starts.
Jr. OG J.D. Duplain (honorable mention, media)
Has started all 12 games at left guard this season . . . ranks fifth on the team with 607 offensive snaps . . . has played in 29 career games with 22 starts at left guard the past three seasons.
Sr.-5 TE Connor Heyward (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Leads Spartan tight ends and ranks fourth on the team with 30 catches for 289 yards . . . has started all 12 games at tight end this season after converting from running back during preseason camp . . . has played in 48 career games for the Spartans, including 27 starts.
Sr. OT Jarrett Horst (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Started first eight games at left tackle . . . transfer from Arkansas State was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List . . . missed the final four games of the regular season . . . has played 317 offensive snaps this season.
Sr.-5 OG/OT Kevin Jarvis (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Has started all 12 games this season . . . started first eight games at right guard and last four games at right tackle . . . has played in 44 career games, including 39 starts.
R-Jr. WR Jalen Nailor (honorable mention, media)
Had an electric start to the season with 31 catches for 587 yards and six touchdowns in the first eight games, but has had to miss the last four games due to an injury . . . was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after catching five passes for 221 yards with three touchdowns (63, 63, and 65 yards) at Rutgers.
R-So. QB Payton Thorne (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Has completed 61 percent of his passes (206-of-339) for 2,886 yards . . . tied for second in Big Ten in passing touchdowns with 24, which also ranks tied for second most in an MSU season . . . ranks third in Big Ten in passing efficiency (150.3 rating), fifth in total offense (255.2 ypg) and sixth in passing (240.5 ypg) . . . named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week vs. Miami.
Walker was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team, a first for a Spartan running back since Le'Veon Bell in 2012.
Walker has led the Big Ten in rushing all season and currently leads the conference and ranks second in the FBS with 1,636 rushing yards (136.2 ypg). He leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (1,154), 20-plus yard carries (21) and missed forced tackles (89), and also ranks among the nation's leaders in 10-plus yard carries (tied for second with 46), total touchdowns (tied for fourth with 19), rushing touchdowns (tied for fifth with 18), yards from scrimmage (sixth with 143.8 ypg), all-purpose yards (eighth with 143.8 ypg) and yards per carry (14th with 6.2 avg.).
Easy choice 🏆@Kenneth_Walker9 has been announced as the B1G Ten Running Back of the Year #K9ForHeisman pic.twitter.com/0klAOfYr9t
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) December 1, 2021
Eleven starters on Michigan State's offense, which ranked third in the Big Ten in scoring offense with 31.9 points per game, earned All-Big Ten recognition.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Jayden Reed garnered third-team accolades from both the coaches and media, while nine players earned honorable mention: C Matt Allen (coaches and media), OT AJ Arcuri (media), OG Blake Bueter (media), OG J.D. Duplain (media), TE Connor Heyward (coaches and media), OT Jarrett Horst (coaches and media), OG/OT Kevin Jarvis (media), WR Jalen Nailor (media) and QB Payton Thorne (coaches and media).
All-Big Ten Third Team 🏆 #GoGreen
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) December 1, 2021
Vote for J Reed to win the Paul Hornung Award: https://t.co/ABRIzS4Coj pic.twitter.com/Ko0qyUBERN
MICHIGAN STATE ALL-BIG TEN SELECTIONS – OFFENSE
COACHES
First Team: RB Kenneth Walker III
Third Team: WR Jayden Reed
Honorable Mention: C Matt Allen, TE Connor Heyward, OT Jarrett Horst, OG/OT Kevin Jarvis, QB Payton Thorne
MEDIA
First Team: RB Kenneth Walker III
Third Team: WR Jayden Reed
Honorable Mention: C Matt Allen, OT AJ Arcuri, OG Blake Bueter, OG J.D. Duplain, TE Connor Heyward, OT Jarrett Horst, OG/OT Kevin Jarvis, WR Jalen Nailor, QB Payton Thorne
Jr. RB Kenneth Walker III (first team, coaches and media)
Has led the Big Ten in rushing the entire 2021 season . . . leads Power 5 running backs and ranks second in FBS in rushing (1,636 yards; 136.3 ypg) . . . tied for first in Big Ten (fifth in FBS) with 18 rushing TDs and 19 overall TDs (fourth in FBS) . . . leads Big Ten in all-purpose yards with 143.8 yards per game (ninth in FBS) . . . Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award finalist . . . leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (1,154), 20-plus yard carries (21) and missed forced tackles (89) . . . named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice (vs. Northwestern and Michigan) . . . rushed for 197 yards and five TDs vs. Michigan on Oct. 30.
R-Jr. WR Jayden Reed (third team, coaches and media)
Ranks third in the Big Ten in yards per catch (17.8 avg.), fourth in receiving yards (946; 78.8 ypg) and ninth in receptions (53; 4.4 pg) . . . Paul Hornung Award finalist . . . also named second-team All-Big Ten as a return specialist . . . was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 62 yards for a score in the fourth quarter vs. Nebraska.
Sr.-6 C Matt Allen (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Has started all 12 games this season . . . has played in 43 career games, including 29 starts at center.
Sr.-6 OT AJ Arcuri (honorable mention, media)
Has started all 12 games this season . . . started first eight games at right tackle and last four games at left tackle . . . ranks fourth on the team with 649 offensive snaps . . . has played 39 career games, including 24 starting assignments.
Sr.-5 OG Blake Bueter (honorable mention, media)
Started the final four games at right guard and has played 477 offensive snaps in 12 games . . . has played in 41 career games with 15 starts.
Jr. OG J.D. Duplain (honorable mention, media)
Has started all 12 games at left guard this season . . . ranks fifth on the team with 607 offensive snaps . . . has played in 29 career games with 22 starts at left guard the past three seasons.
Sr.-5 TE Connor Heyward (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Leads Spartan tight ends and ranks fourth on the team with 30 catches for 289 yards . . . has started all 12 games at tight end this season after converting from running back during preseason camp . . . has played in 48 career games for the Spartans, including 27 starts.
Sr. OT Jarrett Horst (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Started first eight games at left tackle . . . transfer from Arkansas State was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List . . . missed the final four games of the regular season . . . has played 317 offensive snaps this season.
Sr.-5 OG/OT Kevin Jarvis (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Has started all 12 games this season . . . started first eight games at right guard and last four games at right tackle . . . has played in 44 career games, including 39 starts.
R-Jr. WR Jalen Nailor (honorable mention, media)
Had an electric start to the season with 31 catches for 587 yards and six touchdowns in the first eight games, but has had to miss the last four games due to an injury . . . was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after catching five passes for 221 yards with three touchdowns (63, 63, and 65 yards) at Rutgers.
R-So. QB Payton Thorne (honorable mention, coaches and media)
Has completed 61 percent of his passes (206-of-339) for 2,886 yards . . . tied for second in Big Ten in passing touchdowns with 24, which also ranks tied for second most in an MSU season . . . ranks third in Big Ten in passing efficiency (150.3 rating), fifth in total offense (255.2 ypg) and sixth in passing (240.5 ypg) . . . named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week vs. Miami.
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