Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Kenneth Walker III Named Finalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year
12/2/2021 1:33:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State junior running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Kenneth Walker III has been named one of five finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award – the nation's fourth-oldest college football honor – the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced on Thursday afternoon.
The 2021 Walter Camp Player of Year recipient, who is voted on by the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 9 on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.
Previously named a finalist for the Maxwell Award and the Doak Walker Award, Walker was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year on Wednesday. He 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 ranks second in the FBS with 1,636 rushing yards (136.3 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.).
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).
The other four finalists for the 2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award are: Georgia senior nose tackle Jordan Davis, Michigan senior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh senior quarterback Kenny Pickett and Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young.
No. 11 Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will find out its bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 5.
The 2021 Walter Camp Player of Year recipient, who is voted on by the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 9 on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.
Previously named a finalist for the Maxwell Award and the Doak Walker Award, Walker was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year on Wednesday. He 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 ranks second in the FBS with 1,636 rushing yards (136.3 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.).
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).
The other four finalists for the 2021 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award are: Georgia senior nose tackle Jordan Davis, Michigan senior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh senior quarterback Kenny Pickett and Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young.
No. 11 Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will find out its bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 5.
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