Kenneth Walker III’s awards prove Heisman Trophy is a popularity contest

Kenneth Walker III took home two major awards on Thursday night and it just goes to prove that the Heisman Trophy is a popularity contest.

What a gift Kenneth Walker III has been for Michigan State fans this year. The Spartans were incredibly fun to watch and the All-American running back was a big reason for that.

The offense took a massive step forward this season thanks to the emergence of Payton Thorne, Jayden Reed, Jalen Nailor, and Walker. All of these guys helped turn the Spartans around but no one had as big of an impact on the 10-2 season as Walker.

It was pretty clear that Walker was the best player on the team and arguably the most talented player in college football, yet he somehow didn’t earn an invite to the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Not only did he not earn an invite to the ceremony (only four players are invited), he was only the sixth-highest vote-getter. He was behind Aidan Hutchinson, Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett, CJ Stroud, and Will Anderson Jr. in the final Heisman voting, which is a crime. It’s robbery. It’s a disgrace.

And after winning the Doak Walker Award (nation’s top running back) and the Walter Camp Award (nation’s most outstanding player, voted on by coaches), it’s clear that the Heisman Trophy has become a popularity contest and an award given primarily due to recency bias.

It’s unfortunate that one of the most humble superstars to ever come through college football had to fall victim to the popularity contest.

Kenneth Walker III is the nation’s best player

When coaches vote you as the top player in college football and you’re the clear winner for the Doak Walker Award, you know you’re elite. Walker’s two major awards on Thursday night (both firsts in Michigan State history) just prove that he’s the best player in college football.

And yet he didn’t receive a Heisman invite.

Walker is actually the first Walter Camp Award winner to not receive an invite to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Actually, seven of the previous eight winners of the Walter Camp Award actually went on to win the Heisman and the other was a runner-up. An award voted on by FBS coaches and sports directors chose Walker as the nation’s best player while the media voted him sixth.

Why? Because he plays for Michigan State and the Spartans aren’t playing in the playoff and they were blasted by Ohio State in their biggest game of the season. That’s it. That’s the only reason.

Young deserves to win the Heisman for how he played this year, Pickett put up huge numbers but played in the ACC and even lost to Western Michigan, Stroud was really good but didn’t have the numbers of Pickett or Young, and Hutchinson finished the season strong but was relatively quiet statistic-wise from late-September until early-November.

Walker was great all year and was the front-runner for the Heisman before he got injured in the first half against Ohio State and got just six carries. He finished the year with over 130 yards against a stingy Penn State defense in the snow. But apparently his dominant season just wasn’t enough to finish in the top five (!!) of Heisman Trophy voting by the media.

Since you will never hear it from the media, I’m truly sorry, K9. You were robbed by media members who fell in love with late-season darlings and decided that a big final month is better than a huge year.

You will always be Michigan State’s first-ever Doak Walker and Walter Camp Award winner and that’s something no one can take from you.