Michigan State Football: Kenneth Walker III named top-10 Big Ten transfer

We’re getting to the point in the offseason when we can really speculate projected starters and contributors. Essentially, we’re getting more excited for Michigan State football with each passing day.

Mel Tucker is entering his second season as head coach and his first year wasn’t exactly a fair shake. He wasn’t given an offseason (along with every other first-year coach) and was hired after National Signing Day so he didn’t have any time to recruit in person before the pandemic hit and forced a year-long dead period.

Still, Tucker managed to win two games as a massive underdog against ranked opponents in Northwestern and Michigan, taking Paul Bunyan back to East Lansing with him.

Closing that talent gap is the next task on the list. Getting back to being competitive in the Big Ten and potentially pushing for conference titles is something Tucker is aiming to do and he tried to expedite that rebuild this past offseason by bringing in his first recruiting class, highlighted by a flip of four-star linebacker Ma’a Gaoteote from USC, and reeling in 15 transfers.

And some of them are former blue-chip prospects and have earned respect around college football.

Recently, 247Sports released its ranking of the top 150 transfers for 2021 and four Spartans made the cut. Quavaris Crouch, Itayvion Brown, and Jarrett Horst were all ranked in the 100-150 range, but there was one newcomer who made the top 100, and that was Kenneth Walker III.

The former Wake Forest running back has been turning heads all offseason and drawing praise all spring from players and coaches. Expectations are high for him.

And after this list was released, 247Sports‘ Clint Brewster listed the top 10 transfers in the Big Ten for 2021 and Walker III made the cut again.

The Michigan State football newcomer is drawing major praise

With the top-10 transfers in the Big Ten list, Brewster posted a little blurb about the former Wake Forest running back who came in at No. 10.

"Upon entering the transfer portal in early January, Walker got the chance to see what else might be out there for him. His gaze settled on MSU, a place that featured one of the nation’s worst rushing offenses in 2020, but also a place with an energetic new coaching staff and a system better suited for his skill set. In two seasons with the Demon Deacons, Walker finished with 1,158 yards, 17 touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry, six catches and 47 receiving yards. He should give the Spartans a boost in the backfield during their rebuilding phase."

Walker III is also the third-best running back transfer to join the Big Ten this offseason, following Markese Stepp (No. 5 overall) who transferred to Nebraska from USC, and Stephen Carr (No. 4) who transferred from the Trojans to Indiana.

Michigan State’s run game is in good hands with Walker III leading the way and Spartan fans aren’t the only ones with high hopes for him.