https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...kenneth-walker-iii-heisman-trophy/6477275001/
#1 - KWIII
#2 - CJ Stroud
#3 - Bryce Young
The body of work was clear. The numbers spoke to it. But one run in particular solidified my vote for Kenneth Walker III to win the Heisman Trophy.
Not surprisingly, it was the game-winning touchdown in Michigan State’s 37-33 victory over Michigan on Oct. 30. It wasn’t because he ran away from the Wolverines’ defense, however; it was what Walker showed on that play before breaking into the clear.
The slender crease — it was far from a hole — opened between Kevin Jarvis and AJ Arcuri along the MSU offensive line. Walker spotted it while heading to his left behind center Matt Allen, quick-shifted his momentum slightly to his right and shrunk his 5-foot-10, 210-pound frame to slither between his blockers. U-M’s R.J. Moten had Walker in his sights, but the running back veered right again, hurdled the diving tackle attempt and raced to the end zone.
“Hello, New York! I’ll see you in a minute,” Gus Johnson exclaimed on the Fox broadcast. “Rest assured, I’m gonna be there!”
Except Walker didn’t get the invite, finishing sixth in the Heisman voting. Only the top four were in New York for Saturday’s presentation: Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett and Wolverines defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
The Heisman narrative played out on ESPN (and throughout the national media) in the weeks that followed Walker’s 197-yard, five-touchdown masterpiece — the most scored by a single opposing player in the 142-year history of Michigan football.
Yet it wasn’t a one-game deal for Walker, who won the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back Thursday.
The Arlington, Tennessee, native and Wake Forest transfer is first among Power Five players, and second in the nation, with 1,636 rushing yards and a 136.3 yards-per-game average. His 18 rushing touchdowns rank eighth in the country. He currently sits fourth in single-season MSU history in rushing yards, 1 behind Javon Ringer’s 1,637 in 2008 and is tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns.
And Walker did so in an era when offenses have abandoned the run game for spread offenses and pass-first schemes, often splitting carries between two or three backs to maintain their freshness. And he did so behind an MSU offensive line that has at best two or three fringe NFL prospects, none of whom likely will be on teams’ draft boards.
Walker’s FBS-leading 1,154 yards after contact proved that much of what he produced came from his rare combination of power, vision and speed. His 2-yard runs became 10-yard bursts with his leg strength. His 10-yard runs turned into 20 yards with his ability to make second-level defenders miss with jukes and cuts. His 20-yard runs turned into long touchdowns with his ability to sprint away from speedy secondaries.
And he did so despite an offensive line with veterans that, for much of the previous three seasons, had MSU’s run game among the nation’s worst.
The same can’t be said for the four finalists, who are surrounded by pro talent.
Stroud benefitted from a trio of high-end pass catchers in Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, along with future NFL tight end Jeremy Ruckert. For me, Stroud’s ability to spread the ball between those talented players at a nearly 71% completion rate earned my second-place vote.
Pickett built his resume with the help of Jordan Addison, who won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver and had 1,479 of Pickett’s 4,319 passing yards and 17 of his 42 TD passes.
Young was third on my ballot, but he also had a Biletnikoff finalist in Jameson Williams and another potential first-round receiver in John Metchie III. Plus an offensive line full of behemoths.
Hutchinson plays opposite potential first-round pick David Ojabo and a number of possible draftees in U-M’s front seven, the same which can be said of Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who split the nation’s best defensive player honors as the Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award winners, respectively. All three are outstanding players but benefit from not being the central focus of an opponent.
Every defense MSU faced this season knew it had to stop Walker. Few could.
And in his worst game of the season, a six-carry, 25-yard performance against Ohio State, Walker averaged 4.8 yards on his five first-half attempts on a bad ankle — before the Spartans had to abandon the run down three touchdowns in the first quarter of an eventual 56-7 beatdown. Walker ran just one time, for 1 yard, in the second half before sitting the rest of the game.
Coach Mel Tucker did say Walker was banged-up, but his policy to avoid talking about injuries coupled with his running back posting career highs with 30 carries against Maryland and Penn State on either side of the OSU blowout ultimately dulled Walker’s Heisman momentum as the hype machine revved for others.
But the coaches and sports information directors who voted on the Walter Camp Award saw his elite skill. So did the Maxwell Award voters, who had Walker among the three finalists for the other top player of the year award, eventually won by Young. They got it right — it was clear to anyone who watched Walker this season how, individually, no one in the country was better.
#1 - KWIII
#2 - CJ Stroud
#3 - Bryce Young
The body of work was clear. The numbers spoke to it. But one run in particular solidified my vote for Kenneth Walker III to win the Heisman Trophy.
Not surprisingly, it was the game-winning touchdown in Michigan State’s 37-33 victory over Michigan on Oct. 30. It wasn’t because he ran away from the Wolverines’ defense, however; it was what Walker showed on that play before breaking into the clear.
The slender crease — it was far from a hole — opened between Kevin Jarvis and AJ Arcuri along the MSU offensive line. Walker spotted it while heading to his left behind center Matt Allen, quick-shifted his momentum slightly to his right and shrunk his 5-foot-10, 210-pound frame to slither between his blockers. U-M’s R.J. Moten had Walker in his sights, but the running back veered right again, hurdled the diving tackle attempt and raced to the end zone.
“Hello, New York! I’ll see you in a minute,” Gus Johnson exclaimed on the Fox broadcast. “Rest assured, I’m gonna be there!”
Except Walker didn’t get the invite, finishing sixth in the Heisman voting. Only the top four were in New York for Saturday’s presentation: Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett and Wolverines defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
The Heisman narrative played out on ESPN (and throughout the national media) in the weeks that followed Walker’s 197-yard, five-touchdown masterpiece — the most scored by a single opposing player in the 142-year history of Michigan football.
Yet it wasn’t a one-game deal for Walker, who won the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back Thursday.
The Arlington, Tennessee, native and Wake Forest transfer is first among Power Five players, and second in the nation, with 1,636 rushing yards and a 136.3 yards-per-game average. His 18 rushing touchdowns rank eighth in the country. He currently sits fourth in single-season MSU history in rushing yards, 1 behind Javon Ringer’s 1,637 in 2008 and is tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns.
And Walker did so in an era when offenses have abandoned the run game for spread offenses and pass-first schemes, often splitting carries between two or three backs to maintain their freshness. And he did so behind an MSU offensive line that has at best two or three fringe NFL prospects, none of whom likely will be on teams’ draft boards.
Walker’s FBS-leading 1,154 yards after contact proved that much of what he produced came from his rare combination of power, vision and speed. His 2-yard runs became 10-yard bursts with his leg strength. His 10-yard runs turned into 20 yards with his ability to make second-level defenders miss with jukes and cuts. His 20-yard runs turned into long touchdowns with his ability to sprint away from speedy secondaries.
And he did so despite an offensive line with veterans that, for much of the previous three seasons, had MSU’s run game among the nation’s worst.
The same can’t be said for the four finalists, who are surrounded by pro talent.
Stroud benefitted from a trio of high-end pass catchers in Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, along with future NFL tight end Jeremy Ruckert. For me, Stroud’s ability to spread the ball between those talented players at a nearly 71% completion rate earned my second-place vote.
Pickett built his resume with the help of Jordan Addison, who won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver and had 1,479 of Pickett’s 4,319 passing yards and 17 of his 42 TD passes.
Young was third on my ballot, but he also had a Biletnikoff finalist in Jameson Williams and another potential first-round receiver in John Metchie III. Plus an offensive line full of behemoths.
Hutchinson plays opposite potential first-round pick David Ojabo and a number of possible draftees in U-M’s front seven, the same which can be said of Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who split the nation’s best defensive player honors as the Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award winners, respectively. All three are outstanding players but benefit from not being the central focus of an opponent.
Every defense MSU faced this season knew it had to stop Walker. Few could.
And in his worst game of the season, a six-carry, 25-yard performance against Ohio State, Walker averaged 4.8 yards on his five first-half attempts on a bad ankle — before the Spartans had to abandon the run down three touchdowns in the first quarter of an eventual 56-7 beatdown. Walker ran just one time, for 1 yard, in the second half before sitting the rest of the game.
Coach Mel Tucker did say Walker was banged-up, but his policy to avoid talking about injuries coupled with his running back posting career highs with 30 carries against Maryland and Penn State on either side of the OSU blowout ultimately dulled Walker’s Heisman momentum as the hype machine revved for others.
But the coaches and sports information directors who voted on the Walter Camp Award saw his elite skill. So did the Maxwell Award voters, who had Walker among the three finalists for the other top player of the year award, eventually won by Young. They got it right — it was clear to anyone who watched Walker this season how, individually, no one in the country was better.
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