Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Jayden Reed, Kenneth Walker III Named First-Team All-Americans by AFCA
12/15/2021 7:36:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State landed two players on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America First Team on Wednesday, as redshirt junior Jayden Reed garnered honors as an all-purpose player and Kenneth Walker III earned one of two spots at running back.
With recognition from the AFCA, Walker becomes MSU's first unanimous All-American since cornerback Darqueze Dennard in 2013. Walker was also named a first-team All-American by The Associated Press and Sporting News earlier this week, in addition to plaudits from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Walter Camp Foundation, ESPN.com, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus and The Athletic last week.
JAYDEN REED
Jayden Reed leads the team with 53 catches for 946 yards (17.9 avg.) and eight touchdowns. He was named one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, which is awarded annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the nation's most versatile player.
Reed, who was also named first-team All-Big Ten by The Associated Press as an all-purpose player, ranks among the Big Ten and FBS leaders in all-purpose yards (second in Big Ten and 17th in FBS, 130.8 ypg), yards per catch (second and 31st, 17.9 avg.), touchdown catches (fourth and 37th with eight) and receiving yards (fifth and 39th with 78.8 ypg). His 18.5 yards per play ranks sixth most in the FBS (946 receiving yards, 376 kick return, 213 punt return, 34 rushing for a total of 1,569 yards on 85 total plays)
He also is tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky). Although he doesn't qualify due to a statistic minimum in the NCAA stats (1.2 returns per game), Reed would rank first in the nation in punt returns with his 21.3 average and is tied for the lead with two punt returns for TDs.
Reed has scored a total of 11 touchdowns this season (eighth receiving, two punt return, one rushing), good for 10th most in the Big Ten, and led Michigan State with 30 plays of 20-plus yards (18 passing, 9 kick return, 3 punt return), including 8 touchdowns of 20-plus yards: 88-yard punt return vs. Western Kentucky (fourth-longest punt return in school history); 85-yard pass vs. Youngstown State; 75-yard pass vs. Youngtown State; 62-yard punt return vs. Nebraska; 46-yard pass vs. Western Kentucky; 35-yard pass vs. Nebraska; 29-yard pass vs. Maryland; 20-yard pass vs. Penn State.
Reed left the Ohio State game on Nov. 20 in the first half with an injury and did not play in the second half against the Buckeyes, but the next week against Penn State in a steady snow the whole game, Reed came through in the clutch with six catches for 89 yards to help lead MSU to a win over the Nittany Lions, giving MSU 10 wins on the season. With MSU up 23-20 late in the fourth quarter, the Spartans faced a fourth-and-15 from the PSU 20-yard line. Reed went up and grabbed a 20-yard TD catch on fourth down, putting MSU on top 30-20 in the eventual 30-27 win.
Reed was recognized on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the fourth time of the season for his performance in the 40-21 win over Maryland on Nov. 13. He led all players in the game with 210 all-purpose yards, including eight catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns (29 yards in first quarter; 3 yards in third quarter). It marked Reed's eighth career 100-yard receiving game (four at Western Michigan in 2018; one at MSU in 2020; three at MSU in 2021). Reed also had four returns for 96 yards, including a game-long 39-yarder on the last play of the first quarter.
On Oct. 30, with MSU trailing Michigan, 30-14, and less than five minutes left in the third quarter, the Spartans faced a fourth-and-4 from the UM 29. Reed caught a 28-yard pass at the 1-yard line, setting up Kenneth Walker's 1-yard TD, sparking MSU's 37-33 comeback win over the Wolverines. Reed also caught a 2-point conversion that tied the game at 30 against Michigan. Reed had six catches for 80 yards in the game.
Reed was listed on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the third time this fall after collecting a career-high 285 all-purpose yards (127 receiving, 88 punt return, 63 kick return, 7 rushing), the seventh-most single-game total in school history, in the win over Western Kentucky on Oct. 2. Reed scored the first time he touched the ball against the Hilltoppers with an 88-yard punt return, marking his second consecutive punt return for a touchdown (62 yards vs. Nebraska in fourth quarter). He also had his second 100-yard receiving effort of the season with four catches for 127 yards vs. WKU, including a 46-yard TD in the first quarter.
Reed was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 27; he was also recognized on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the second time this season (Week 2 vs. Youngstown State). With MSU trailing 20-13 to Nebraska late in the fourth quarter, Reed returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown to tie the game with 3:47 remaining, setting the stage for an overtime win over the Huskers. It marked MSU's first punt return for a touchdown since Nov. 26, 2011 (Keshawn Martin 57 yards at Northwestern). Reed finished the game with 192 all-purpose yards (69 kick return, 62 punt return, 59 receiving, 2 rushing). His 41-yard kick return in the second quarter set up an MSU field goal. He also hauled in four passes for 59 yards, including a 35-yard TD catch from Thorne in the second quarter.
In Week 2, Reed caught four passes for a career-high 181 yards against Youngstown State; two of those catches came for 160 yards in the first half alone (75 yard TD on first play of the game; 85 yard TD in second quarter). He also tallied 264 all-purpose yards (181 receiving, 32 kick return, 48 punt return) against YSU.
KENNETH WALKER III
Last Thursday, Kenneth Walker III became the first ever Michigan State player to win the Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Doak Walker Award. He finished sixth overall in the Heisman Trophy voting, the best showing for a Spartan since 1988.
Walker, who was also one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award, currently ranks second in the FBS with 1,636 rushing yards (136.3 ypg). He leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (1,168), 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), yards from scrimmage (sixth with 143.8 ypg), all-purpose yards (seventh with 143.8 ypg), total touchdowns (tied for seventh with 19), rushing touchdowns (eighth with 18) and yards per carry (14th with 6.2 avg.).
Walker was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year two weeks ago by the conference and also became the first Spartan running back to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors since Le'Veon Bell in 2012. Walker is also the first Spartan RB to garner first-team All-America accolades since Bell (2012).
Through 12 games in the regular season, Walker has collected 1,636 rushing yards, the fourth most by a Spartan in a single season in school history. Walker was the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 yards in a single season in terms of carries (153 carries). In addition, his 18 rushing TDs are tied for fifth most in an MSU season and his 19 overall TDs (one receiving score) are tied for fourth most.
Walker has eight 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; 138 vs. Penn State on Nov. 27).
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 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 29 carries for 233 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. 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).
No. 10 Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will play No. 12 Pittsburgh (11-2, 7-1 ACC) in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The game will be televised on ESPN as part of the New Year's Six.
With recognition from the AFCA, Walker becomes MSU's first unanimous All-American since cornerback Darqueze Dennard in 2013. Walker was also named a first-team All-American by The Associated Press and Sporting News earlier this week, in addition to plaudits from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Walter Camp Foundation, ESPN.com, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus and The Athletic last week.
JAYDEN REED
Jayden Reed leads the team with 53 catches for 946 yards (17.9 avg.) and eight touchdowns. He was named one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, which is awarded annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the nation's most versatile player.
Reed, who was also named first-team All-Big Ten by The Associated Press as an all-purpose player, ranks among the Big Ten and FBS leaders in all-purpose yards (second in Big Ten and 17th in FBS, 130.8 ypg), yards per catch (second and 31st, 17.9 avg.), touchdown catches (fourth and 37th with eight) and receiving yards (fifth and 39th with 78.8 ypg). His 18.5 yards per play ranks sixth most in the FBS (946 receiving yards, 376 kick return, 213 punt return, 34 rushing for a total of 1,569 yards on 85 total plays)
He also is tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky). Although he doesn't qualify due to a statistic minimum in the NCAA stats (1.2 returns per game), Reed would rank first in the nation in punt returns with his 21.3 average and is tied for the lead with two punt returns for TDs.
Reed has scored a total of 11 touchdowns this season (eighth receiving, two punt return, one rushing), good for 10th most in the Big Ten, and led Michigan State with 30 plays of 20-plus yards (18 passing, 9 kick return, 3 punt return), including 8 touchdowns of 20-plus yards: 88-yard punt return vs. Western Kentucky (fourth-longest punt return in school history); 85-yard pass vs. Youngstown State; 75-yard pass vs. Youngtown State; 62-yard punt return vs. Nebraska; 46-yard pass vs. Western Kentucky; 35-yard pass vs. Nebraska; 29-yard pass vs. Maryland; 20-yard pass vs. Penn State.
Reed left the Ohio State game on Nov. 20 in the first half with an injury and did not play in the second half against the Buckeyes, but the next week against Penn State in a steady snow the whole game, Reed came through in the clutch with six catches for 89 yards to help lead MSU to a win over the Nittany Lions, giving MSU 10 wins on the season. With MSU up 23-20 late in the fourth quarter, the Spartans faced a fourth-and-15 from the PSU 20-yard line. Reed went up and grabbed a 20-yard TD catch on fourth down, putting MSU on top 30-20 in the eventual 30-27 win.
Reed was recognized on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the fourth time of the season for his performance in the 40-21 win over Maryland on Nov. 13. He led all players in the game with 210 all-purpose yards, including eight catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns (29 yards in first quarter; 3 yards in third quarter). It marked Reed's eighth career 100-yard receiving game (four at Western Michigan in 2018; one at MSU in 2020; three at MSU in 2021). Reed also had four returns for 96 yards, including a game-long 39-yarder on the last play of the first quarter.
On Oct. 30, with MSU trailing Michigan, 30-14, and less than five minutes left in the third quarter, the Spartans faced a fourth-and-4 from the UM 29. Reed caught a 28-yard pass at the 1-yard line, setting up Kenneth Walker's 1-yard TD, sparking MSU's 37-33 comeback win over the Wolverines. Reed also caught a 2-point conversion that tied the game at 30 against Michigan. Reed had six catches for 80 yards in the game.
Reed was listed on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the third time this fall after collecting a career-high 285 all-purpose yards (127 receiving, 88 punt return, 63 kick return, 7 rushing), the seventh-most single-game total in school history, in the win over Western Kentucky on Oct. 2. Reed scored the first time he touched the ball against the Hilltoppers with an 88-yard punt return, marking his second consecutive punt return for a touchdown (62 yards vs. Nebraska in fourth quarter). He also had his second 100-yard receiving effort of the season with four catches for 127 yards vs. WKU, including a 46-yard TD in the first quarter.
Reed was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 27; he was also recognized on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the second time this season (Week 2 vs. Youngstown State). With MSU trailing 20-13 to Nebraska late in the fourth quarter, Reed returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown to tie the game with 3:47 remaining, setting the stage for an overtime win over the Huskers. It marked MSU's first punt return for a touchdown since Nov. 26, 2011 (Keshawn Martin 57 yards at Northwestern). Reed finished the game with 192 all-purpose yards (69 kick return, 62 punt return, 59 receiving, 2 rushing). His 41-yard kick return in the second quarter set up an MSU field goal. He also hauled in four passes for 59 yards, including a 35-yard TD catch from Thorne in the second quarter.
In Week 2, Reed caught four passes for a career-high 181 yards against Youngstown State; two of those catches came for 160 yards in the first half alone (75 yard TD on first play of the game; 85 yard TD in second quarter). He also tallied 264 all-purpose yards (181 receiving, 32 kick return, 48 punt return) against YSU.
KENNETH WALKER III
Last Thursday, Kenneth Walker III became the first ever Michigan State player to win the Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Doak Walker Award. He finished sixth overall in the Heisman Trophy voting, the best showing for a Spartan since 1988.
Walker, who was also one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award, currently ranks second in the FBS with 1,636 rushing yards (136.3 ypg). He leads the FBS in rushing yards after contact (1,168), 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), yards from scrimmage (sixth with 143.8 ypg), all-purpose yards (seventh with 143.8 ypg), total touchdowns (tied for seventh with 19), rushing touchdowns (eighth with 18) and yards per carry (14th with 6.2 avg.).
Walker was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year two weeks ago by the conference and also became the first Spartan running back to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors since Le'Veon Bell in 2012. Walker is also the first Spartan RB to garner first-team All-America accolades since Bell (2012).
Through 12 games in the regular season, Walker has collected 1,636 rushing yards, the fourth most by a Spartan in a single season in school history. Walker was the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 yards in a single season in terms of carries (153 carries). In addition, his 18 rushing TDs are tied for fifth most in an MSU season and his 19 overall TDs (one receiving score) are tied for fourth most.
Walker has eight 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; 138 vs. Penn State on Nov. 27).
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 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 29 carries for 233 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. 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).
No. 10 Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will play No. 12 Pittsburgh (11-2, 7-1 ACC) in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The game will be televised on ESPN as part of the New Year's Six.
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