Michigan State University Athletics
Kenneth Walker III Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List
7/21/2021 9:51:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State junior running back Kenneth Walker III has been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Wednesday. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation's top college running back.
Walker transferred from Wake Forest to Michigan State in January and participated in spring practice with the Spartans. He rushed for 1,158 yards and 17 touchdowns in just 20 games during his first two seasons with the Demon Deacons (2019-20).
Last season, Walker ranked tied for third in the ACC with 13 rushing touchdowns in just seven games and rushed for 579 yards for the second year in a row. His 13 rushing TDs tied for third most in a Wake Forest single-season.
Walker had three 100-yard rushing efforts in 2020, including a career-high 131 yards and three scores on 27 carries at North Carolina State; 105 yards and a TD vs. Campbell; and 128 yards and three TDs against Virginia in which he earned ACC Running Back of the Week honors. He also had a 75-yard rushing touchdown against the Cavaliers. In a win over Syracuse on Oct. 31, Walker scored three touchdowns on 79 yards rushing.
As a true freshman in 2019, Walker ranked third among ACC freshmen with 579 rushing yards (44.5 ypg) on 98 carries with four touchdowns. He set a school record with a 96-yard rushing TD vs. Rice and had 125 yards overall against the Owls, and also tallied a 100-yard game (113) vs. Duke.
A product of Arlington, Tennessee, Walker was an extremely productive running back at Arlington High School in Tennessee near Memphis, rushing for 3,485 yards on 493 carries, including 13 100-yard games, with 41 touchdowns in his prep career.
Michigan State begins the 2021 season on Friday, Sept. 3 at Northwestern beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Walker transferred from Wake Forest to Michigan State in January and participated in spring practice with the Spartans. He rushed for 1,158 yards and 17 touchdowns in just 20 games during his first two seasons with the Demon Deacons (2019-20).
Last season, Walker ranked tied for third in the ACC with 13 rushing touchdowns in just seven games and rushed for 579 yards for the second year in a row. His 13 rushing TDs tied for third most in a Wake Forest single-season.
Walker had three 100-yard rushing efforts in 2020, including a career-high 131 yards and three scores on 27 carries at North Carolina State; 105 yards and a TD vs. Campbell; and 128 yards and three TDs against Virginia in which he earned ACC Running Back of the Week honors. He also had a 75-yard rushing touchdown against the Cavaliers. In a win over Syracuse on Oct. 31, Walker scored three touchdowns on 79 yards rushing.
As a true freshman in 2019, Walker ranked third among ACC freshmen with 579 rushing yards (44.5 ypg) on 98 carries with four touchdowns. He set a school record with a 96-yard rushing TD vs. Rice and had 125 yards overall against the Owls, and also tallied a 100-yard game (113) vs. Duke.
A product of Arlington, Tennessee, Walker was an extremely productive running back at Arlington High School in Tennessee near Memphis, rushing for 3,485 yards on 493 carries, including 13 100-yard games, with 41 touchdowns in his prep career.
Michigan State begins the 2021 season on Friday, Sept. 3 at Northwestern beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
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