Michigan State Football: Midseason awards for 2021 Spartans

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Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III runs for a gain against Western Kentucky’s during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211002 Msu Wku Fb 173a /

Top offensive player: Kenneth Walker III

Another appearance for Kenneth Walker III on our midseason awards list as he has easily been the top offensive player. OK, so maybe not “easily” as Payton Thorne, Jalen Nailor, and Jayden Reed are all up there in the running, but a Heisman contender has to lead the way here.

Walker III has been just what this offense needed after running backs posted zero (!!) rushing touchdowns a season ago and a 2.0 yards per carry average.

The Spartans averaged under 100 rushing yards per game as a team last season, led by Jordon Simmons who averaged 3.9 yards per carry as a true freshman. This season? Walker is averaging about 150 yards per game on his own and he’s putting up 7.1 yards per touch. He’s averaging close to a first down on each carry — not too shabby.

The Wake Forest transfer has had one “bad” game this year and it wasn’t even his fault as the offensive line was really bad against Nebraska and he still ended up with 61 yards and a huge 22-yard run in overtime to set up the game-winning chip-shot field goal.

Four 100-yard games, three 170-plus yard games, and two 200-yard games. How could you not call Walker III the Spartan’s top offensive player through six games?

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