3 things that must happen for Kenneth Walker III to win Heisman

Since 2000, only three running backs have won the Heisman Trophy. It’s actually been considered a quarterback’s award over the past couple of decades, but Michigan State football’s Kenneth Walker III is trying to change that.

Through five games, Walker III leads the nation in rushing with 680 yards and that’s a good start for someone trying to win the Heisman Trophy at the position.

But there’s a ton of work to be done and other variables that need to fall into place in order for Walker III to be Michigan State’s first-ever Heisman winner.

These three things must happen in order for Walker III to have a shot.

3. Walker has to become serious threat in passing game

The only time a Heisman-winning running back wasn’t a receiving threat over the past two decades was when Derrick Henry took home the award in 2015. He didn’t need to be a receiving threat because, well, he accounted for over 2,200 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns. Simply put, he did enough on the ground that he didn’t need to be a solid receiver, too.

The other two Heisman-winning running backs, however, had to prove that they could catch the ball out of the backfield as well because they finished with under 2,000 rushing yards.

Mark Ingram had 1,658 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns on the ground and still won the Heisman because he had 32 catches for 334 yards and three more scores. Reggie Bush had 1,740 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns but he also caught 37 passes for 478 yards and two more scores.

If Walker wants to win the award, he needs to be more of a threat in the passing game, especially since he probably won’t reach 2,000 yards unless he averages 200 yards per game from here on out. Right now, he only has three catches for 17 yards and a touchdown. That needs to improve.