Transfer Spotlight – Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker

At CFB Saturdays we recognize that the landscape is always changing in College Football and the undeniable impact transfers have had on our beloved sport in recent history.  Transfers have gone on to make College Football Playoff runs, win the Heisman, the National Championship, and become top NFL Draft Picks (Joe Burrow recently accomplished all of the above).  In the Transfer Spotlight we take a look at the potential impact of top Transfers in 2021.  Today we take a look at Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker who performed at Wake Forest in 2020.

Glimpses Of His Potential

Walker has spent the last two seasons at Wake Forest. He was not the primary running back for the Demon Deacons in either season, but was heavily in the rotation both years. Over the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Walker has carried the ball 217 times for 1,158 yards (5.3 ypc) and 17 touchdowns. He also caught 6 passes for 47 yards in his time at Wake Forest. Though Walker was never the lead back, he showed the ability to be a quality running back whenever he was given the opportunity.

Walker has five 100 yard games in his career, with three of them coming during the 2020 season. Despite a three game stretch that saw him run off consecutive 100 yard games, Walker’s role decreased over the next three games. His carries went from 23 against Virginia Tech to 16 against Syracuse and 13 against North Carolina. Despite the decreased role, Walker scored at least one touchdown in six straight games, before ending his season.

Walker did not play the last two games of the season and entered the transfer portal. He decided in early January to transfer to Michigan State.  The Spartans went 2 – 5 in Mel Tucker’s first season as head coach. The Spartans averaged just 2.7 yards per carry as a team and need to kick start their running game. Walker will have the opportunity to reverse the fortunes in the running game for his new team in 2021.

Kenneth Walker’s Tools

At 5’10” 200 lbs, Kenneth Walker is not a particularly big running back, but he runs low to the ground and packs a punch as a ball carrier. Walker is patient in the backfield, allowing the hole to develop or waiting for a cut back lane to appear. He then has good burst and balance, showing the ability to change directions and get up to speed quickly and take advantage of the opening. Walker has some wiggle and will make defenders miss in the backfield or out in space.

Walker has enough power and good balance to allow him to break arm tackles at the second level and pick up yardage after contact. He runs low to the ground and runs with good pop behind his pads, delivering contact to defenders and picking up yardage after contact. Walker has some speed in the open field and can take it the distance, though he is a not a burner. Wake Forest did not use Walker as a receiver much, though his quickness would be an asset in space.

Outlook at Michigan State

Michigan State did beat Michigan and pulled off the upset of then unbeaten Northwestern, but those were the only two wins for the Spartans in 2020. The team averaged just 18 points per game and the running game was dreadful, without a single running back averaging over four yards per carry. The passing attack had some explosive plays thanks to a talented group of receivers, but inconsistent quarterback play did not allow it to be a strength either.

The Spartans have been active in the transfer portal and Walker may not be the only player from this transfer class we feature. Michigan State added quarterback Anthony Russo, a three year starter at Temple that is probably the favorite to win the starting job. The Spartans added another running back, bringing in Harold Joiner from Auburn, who was once a four star recruit but only carried the ball 15 times at Auburn. On the offensive line, Michigan State added tackle Jarrett Horst who was a starter for Arkansas State last season.

With Russo in the fold to potentially stabilize the passing game and Horst added to an experienced offensive line that should play better with Kevin Jarvis moving back to his natural guard spot, the offense has a chance to make a big jump in 2021. The running game will have to be a factor for that to happen and there are three running backs that will compete for carries. Jordan Simmons who led the team in rushing as a freshman, Joiner who was a talented recruit but is unproven at the college level, and Walker who is the most established of the three.

Mel Tucker is rebuilding the football program as quickly as he can and needs players who can play now. For the Spartans to make progress the offense has to play better and that means the running game has to be more productive. With Walker added to the running back room, the Spartans have a player they know has the ability to make plays at the college level and provide a spark in the backfield.

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