50 defining moments from the 2021 Michigan State football season: No. 27

Now we are under four weeks until Michigan State football. Today highlights senior day and the moment Kenneth Walker III scored his last Spartan touchdown.

Welcome back to the 24th edition of this Michigan State football series, that being moment no. 27 in the 50 defining moments of 2021. We are closing in on halfway through this series. Today, we look back at senior day for the Spartans when Kenneth Walker donned the Spartan uniform for the last time.

For those of you who missed yesterday’s article, please click here. If you would like to look at previous articles of this series, feel free to scroll through my writing profile.

No. 27: Kenneth Walker III’s 2-yard TD run vs. PSU

Video: ESPN

Why No. 27?

This play highlights the power Kenneth Walker III uses. When he is not juking out defenders or cutting into holes that are barely there, Walker possesses the ability to run over a defender and power through to fall forward. That is on full display here, and Walker is wrapped up about a yard and a half from the endzone. Walker is unphased and drives through a Penn State defensive back to fall into the endzone.

This score occurred at the start of the Penn State-Michigan State matchup to make it a 7-0 affair. This was part of a wave of momentum in favor of Michigan State football, as the Spartans scored the first two touchdowns to open the game.

Since this occurred at the start of the game, there was not as much action building into this play. I also do not want to spoil the rest and write about it, as there are more than a few moments from this game that still have their own article waiting.

Kenneth Walker was an amazing transfer portal pickup for Mel Tucker and the Spartans, as he was the best running back in college football by a long shot. In part, that is why this play is so high. Walker’s impact on the game gives all of us Spartan fans fond memories and boosts the plays just a bit higher.

Additionally, this was Walker’s final touchdown as a Spartan. Despite it being an early game, a rather unspectacular touchdown compared to the plays yet to come on this list, it was his final time getting into the end zone in the green and white. That alone moves it this high onto my list despite not fitting most of the criteria that I have used earlier to judge plays.

Most of us knew heading into this game that it would be Walker’s final as a Spartan, so it was guaranteed that any touchdown by K9 would receive extra attention on this day.

With all this stated, I cannot rate it any higher as there are many more impactful and “wow” moments coming up on this list. We still have a majority of the Michigan game to get through as well as a few more memorable moments. This might have been the final K9 collegiate touchdown, but it will not be the last time you see him on this list.

Statistically, this was part of Kenneth Walker’s 138-yard game against the Nittany Lions. It was his 18th and final rushing touchdown in 2021, securing his place on end-of-season awards lists. Additionally, this play moved Walker into a tie for fifth place in single-season rushing touchdowns for Michigan State football.

For those looking for a hint for tomorrow, we get to see the Spartan defense again to mark the halfway point in this series.