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Michigan State Football: 3 most impactful transfers for 2021 season

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 13, 2018; Annapolis, MD, USA; Temple Owls quarterback Anthony Russo (15) looks to pass against the Navy Midshipmen during the first half at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2018; Annapolis, MD, USA; Temple Owls quarterback Anthony Russo (15) looks to pass against the Navy Midshipmen during the first half at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 02: Kenneth Walker III #25 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons runs with the ball in the second quarter during their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at BB&T Field on November 02, 2019 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 02: Kenneth Walker III #25 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons runs with the ball in the second quarter during their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at BB&T Field on November 02, 2019 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

How good is Kenneth Walker III? Pro Football Focus actually ranked him the fifth-best returning running back in 2021 which should make Spartan fans feel very good about the backfield.

Walker III will have a huge impact even though Michigan State was already pretty set at running back with Elijah Collins, Connor Heyward and Jordon Simmons returning but adding him along with Harold Joiner did nothing but bolster the backfield.

Collins had a disappointing 2020 season while Heyward returned and was fairly lackluster on the ground. Simmons was the biggest surprise in the backfield as a true freshman and his future is bright in East Lansing. But adding Walker III should give the Spartans a truly reliable runner with both experience, talent, and the stats to back it up.

As a freshman with Wake Forest in 2019, he rushed for 579 yards and four touchdowns on 5.9 yards per carry and he posted the same yardage total as a sophomore with 13 touchdowns on 4.9 yards per touch. He’s going to come in and benefit from hopefully an improved offensive line as well as an offense with more weapons than Wake had.

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