Kenneth Walker III (running back)
{{short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{for|the wide receiver|Kenneth Walker III (wide receiver)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kenneth Walker III
| image = KennethWalkerIII.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Walker (#9) with the Michigan State Spartans in 2021
| current_team = Seattle Seahawks
| number = 9
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|10|20}}
| birth_place = Arlington, Tennessee, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 211
| high_school = Arlington
| college = {{ubl|Wake Forest (2019–2020)|Michigan State (2021)}}
| draftyear = 2022
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 41
| pastteams =
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2022}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2022)
- Walter Camp Award (2021)
- Doak Walker Award (2021)
- Unanimous All-American (2021)
- Big Ten Running Back of the Year (2021)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2021)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 2,528
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 4.2
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 24
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 102
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 723
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 2
| pfr = WalkKe00
}}
Kenneth Walker III (born October 20, 2000) is an American professional football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Michigan State Spartans. He won the Walter Camp and Doak Walker Awards in 2021.
Early life
Walker was born on October 20, 2000, in Arlington, Tennessee.{{Cite web |last=Munz |first=Jason |date=August 25, 2018 |title=Arlington star Kenny Walker is scoring touchdowns at a breakneck pace, and more takeaways from Friday night |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/08/25/arlington-star-kenny-walker-making-look-easy-early-2018-high-school-football-takeaways-week-2/1056428002/ |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=The Commercial Appeal}} He attended Arlington High School and played for their football team, where he rushed for 3,485 yards with 41 touchdowns. He committed to Wake Forest University to play college football.{{Cite web |last=Johns |first=Les |date=December 2, 2018 |title=Memphis-area RB Kenneth Walker commits to Wake Forest |url=https://247sports.com/college/wake-forest/Article/BREAKING-Memphis-area-running-back-Kenneth-Walker-commits-to-Wake-Forest--125783653/ |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=DemonDeaconDigest.com |language=en-US}}
College career
Walker played at Wake Forest in 2019 and 2020. During those two years he rushed for 1,158 yards on 217 carries with 17 touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Kenneth Walker III 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kenneth-walker-iii-1/gamelog/2019 |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Kenneth Walker III 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kenneth-walker-iii-1/gamelog/2020 |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} After the 2020 season, Walker transferred to Michigan State University.{{Cite web |last=Charboneau |first=Matt |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Michigan State lands running back Kenneth Walker III, transfer from Wake Forest |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2021/01/06/michigan-state-lands-running-back-kenneth-walker-iii-transfer-wake-forest/6572349002/ |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=The Detroit News}}{{Cite web |last=Dell |first=John |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Running back Kenneth Walker III, transferring from Wake Forest, announces his destination |url=https://journalnow.com/sports/college/wfu/running-back-kenneth-walker-iii-transferring-from-wake-forest-announces-his-destination/article_e9d54324-5069-11eb-b34f-0bde5f8f7515.html |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=Winston-Salem Journal}} He became the starter his first year at Michigan State.{{Cite web |last=Wenzel |first=Matt |date=August 9, 2021 |title=Kenneth Walker III could be 'home run' threat Michigan State needs at running back |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2021/08/kenneth-walker-iii-could-be-home-run-threat-michigan-state-needs-at-running-back.html |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=mlive}}{{Cite web |last=Charboneau |first=Matt |date=September 4, 2021 |title=Kenneth Walker III runs wild as MSU tramples Northwestern in opener |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2021/09/03/kenneth-walker-iii-runs-wild-msu-tramples-northwestern-opener/5715536001/ |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=The Detroit News}} In his debut with the Spartans, he rushed for 264 yards and four touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Wenzel |first=Matt |date=September 11, 2021 |title=Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III feels no pressure for encore to monster debut |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2021/09/michigan-state-rb-kenneth-walker-iii-feels-no-pressure-for-encore-to-monster-debut.html |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=mlive}}{{Cite web |last=Atkins |first=Nate |date=September 4, 2021 |title=Kenneth Walker III shatters expectations for everyone but his Michigan State teammates: 'I've never had a game like this' |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/2021/09/04/kenneth-walker-iii-shatters-expectations-michigan-state-debut/5730152001/ |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Lansing State Journal}} His four touchdowns doubled the Michigan State 2020 season total, and were the first for a Spartan running back since the 2019 season.{{Cite web |title=2020 Michigan State Spartans Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/2020.html |access-date=December 14, 2021 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} Walker III was awarded the Doak Walker and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and finished 6th in the Heisman for the 2021 NCAA season.{{Cite web |title=Doak Walker Award Winners |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/walker.html |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Winners |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/camp-poy.html |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He earned Consensus All-American honors for the 2021 season.{{Cite web |title=Consensus All-America Teams (2020–2022) |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/all-america-2020-2029.html |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} Following the season, he announced that he would forgo his senior year and declared for the 2022 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=VanHaaren |first=Tom |date=December 16, 2021 |title=Spartans RB Walker to skip bowl, enter NFL draft |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32883809/michigan-state-spartans-rb-kenneth-walker-iii-enters-nfl-draft |access-date=December 19, 2021 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="4"| Rushing ! colspan="4"| Receiving | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| colspan="15" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Wake Forest Demon Deacons}}"| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | ||||||||||
| 2019
| 13 || 0 || 90 || 579 || 6.2 || 4 || 3 || 17 || 5.7 || 0 | ||||||||||
| 2020
| 7 || 7 || 119 || 579 || 4.9 || 13 || 3 || 30 || 10.0 || 0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="15" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans}}"| Michigan State Spartans | ||||||||||
| 2021
| 12 || 12 || 263 || 1,636 || 6.2 || 18 || 13 || 89 || 6.8 || 1 | ||||||||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kenneth-walker-iii-1.html Career] | 32 | 19 | 472 | 2,794 | 5.8 | 35 | 19 | 136 | 7.5 | 1 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 9 1/4
| weight = 211
| dash = 4.38
| ten split = 1.49
| twenty split = 2.53
| vertical = 34.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 2
| arm span = 30 3/8
| hand span = 9 1/2
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Kenneth Walker III Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kenny-walker-iii/32005741-4c39-1813-7d3e-48047712136d |access-date=March 5, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State, RB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1030641&DraftYear=2022 |access-date=March 5, 2022 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=2022=
Walker was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round with the 41st overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=April 29, 2022 |title=Seahawks Select Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III With 41st Overall Pick |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/kenneth-walker-nfl-draft-rb-michigan-state |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Seahawks.com}}
Walker made his NFL debut in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – September 18th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202209180sfo.htm |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 5, against the New Orleans Saints, he had a 69-yard rushing touchdown in the 32–39 loss.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans Saints – October 9th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202210090nor.htm |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He was named the starting running back for the Seattle Seahawks after Rashaad Penny was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=Tim |date=October 15, 2022 |title=Seahawks place Rashaad Penny on IR, elevate one from practice squad |url=https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2022/10/15/seahawks-place-rashaad-penny-on-ir-elevate-christian-jones/ |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Seahawks Wire |language=en-US}} In Week 7, against the Los Angeles Chargers, Walker rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the 37–23 victory.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Chargers – October 23rd, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202210230sdg.htm |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} On November 3, Walker was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=November 3, 2022 |title=Tariq Woolen & Kenneth Walker III Earn NFL Rookie of the Month Honors |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/tariq-woolen-kenneth-walker-iii-earn-nfl-rookie-of-the-month-honors |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=Seahawks.com |language=en}} In Week 9, he rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a 31–21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals – November 6th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202211060crd.htm |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 12, he had another game with two rushing touchdowns in the 40–34 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.{{Cite web |title=Las Vegas Raiders at Seattle Seahawks – November 27th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202211270sea.htm |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He closed out the regular season with three consecutive games with over 100 rushing yards. He finished his rookie season with 228 carries for 1,050 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns to go along with 27 receptions for 165 receiving yards.{{Cite web |title=Kenneth Walker 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WalkKe00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He joined Curt Warner as the only players in franchise history to rush for at least 1,000 yards as a rookie.{{Cite web |last=Obee |first=Maliik |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III Etches Name In Seahawks Record Books In Season Finale |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-rb-kenneth-walker-iii-etches-name-in-seahawks-record-books-in-season-fi |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=www.seahawks.com |language=en-US}} On January 14, 2023, during the 2022–23 NFL playoffs, Walker rushed the ball 15 times for 63 yards and a touchdown, during a 41–23 Wild Card Round loss to the 49ers.{{Cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |date=January 15, 2023 |title=49ers defeat Seahawks, advance to NFC Divisional Round for second straight season |url=https://www.nfl.com/_amp/49ers-defeat-seahawks-advance-to-nfc-divisional-round-for-second-straight-season |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |last=Simmons |first=Myles |date=January 14, 2023 |title=Seahawks score with Kenneth Walker touchdown, trail 49ers 10–7 |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/01/14/seahawks-score-with-kenneth-walker-touchdown-trail-49ers-10-7/ |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}} He was named to the 2022 Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2022 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2022.htm |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=2023=
In Week 3, Walker totaled 156 scrimmage yards with a pair of rushing touchdowns in a 37–27 win over the Carolina Panthers, earning National Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week.{{Cite web |last=Gordon, Grant |date=September 27, 2023 |title=Dolphins RB De'Von Achane, Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III highlight Players of the Week |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2023-week-3-devon-achane-kenneth-walker |website=NFL.com}} Walker finished the 2023 season with 219 carries for 905 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns to go with 29 receptions for 259 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in 15 games.{{Cite web |title=Kenneth Walker III 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WalkKe00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=2024=
Walker dealt with injury throughout the 2024 campaign, making 11 total starts and compiling 573 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 299 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. On December 26, 2024, Walker was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, ending his season.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=December 26, 2024 |title=Seahawks Place Kenneth Walker III On Injured Reserve; Sign George Holani Off Practice Squad |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-place-kenneth-walker-iii-on-injured-reserve-sign-george-holani-off-practice-squad |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=Seahawks.com |language=en}}
NFL career statistics
= Regular season =
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" | Legend |
| Bold
| Career High |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} | {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} | {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per rushing attempt}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest rushing attempt}} | {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Rec|Receptions}} | {{abbr|Yds|Receiving yards}} | {{abbr|Y/R|Yards per reception}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest reception}} | {{abbr|TD|Receiving touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Fum|Fumbles}} | {{abbr|Lost|Fumbles lost}} | |
| 2022 | SEA
| 15 || 11 || 228 || 1,050 || 4.6 || 74T || 9 || 27 || 165 || 6.1 || 33 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2023 | SEA
| 15 || 15 || 219 || 905 || 4.1 || 45 || 8 || 29 || 259 || 8.9 || 64T || 1 || 1 || 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2024
!SEA |12 |12 |145 |542 |3.7 |28 |7 |38 |271 |7.1 |21 |1 |1 |0 | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WalkKe00.htm Career] | 42 | 38 | 592 | 2497 | 4.2 | 74 | 24 | 94 | 695 | 7.4 | 64 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
= Postseason =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Team ! colspan="2" | Games ! colspan="5" | Rushing ! colspan="5" | Receiving ! colspan="2" | Fumbles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2022 | SEA
| 1 || 1 || 15 || 63 || 4.2 || 9 || 1 || 1 || 3 || 3.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WalkKe00/gamelog/post/ Career] ||| 1 || 1 || 15 || 63 || 4.2 || 9 || 1 || 1 || 3 || 3.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Footballstats |nfl=kenneth-walker-iii|espn=4567048|pfr=W/WalkKe00|yahoo=33996}}
- {{Twitter|Kenneth_Walker9}}
- [https://www.seahawks.com/team/players-roster/kenneth-walker-iii/ Seattle Seahawks bio]
- [https://msuspartans.com/sports/football/roster/kenneth--walker-iii/11283 Michigan State Spartans bio]
- [https://godeacs.com/sports/football/roster/kenneth-walker-iii/5045 Wake Forest Demon Deacons bio]
{{Walter Camp Award}}
{{Doak Walker Award}}
{{2021 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year}}
{{Seahawks2022DraftPicks}}
{{Seattle Seahawks roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Kenneth III}}
Category:Players of American football from Shelby County, Tennessee
Category:American football running backs
Category:Wake Forest Demon Deacons football players
Category:Michigan State Spartans football players
Category:All-American college football players