Six weeks of NFL action are in the books, and some former Michigan State stars in the NFL are making some noise. Kenneth Walker III is among those top performers making waves.
The former Doak Walker Award winner and Wake Forest transfer spent his final collegiate season in East Lansing, dominating defenses every week. He may have been snubbed from the Heisman Trophy Ceremony in New York, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing his dominance in the NFL.
After rushing for 1,000 yards as a rookie, he had two “down” seasons in 2023 and 2024, but it looks like he’s getting his confidence back, and he might just hit the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in his career. But he’s unfortunately splitting carries with an underperforming ex-Wolverine named Zach Charbonnet, and Seahawks fans are calling it “malpractice” by the coaching staff.
Seattle fans have been begging for Walker to get the lion’s share of carries, but he’s only out-touching Charbonnet by five (69-64) in games where they’re both healthy.
Unacceptable.
To pour salt in Seahawks fans’ wounds, Pro Football Focus ranked the top-graded running backs in the NFL through six weeks, and Walker was No. 1 in the league.
Kenneth Walker is PFF's highest-graded rusher this season (84.6 Rushing Grade).
— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) October 14, 2025
Just pour more salt in my wound.
I don’t know about you, but if I knew I had an effecient rusher and PFF’s No. 1-graded back in the league and he was still splitting carries with a guy averaging 2.7 yards per carry, I’d probably want my head coach fired. Who is this head coach? None other than former Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald who witnessed K9 score five touchdowns against his defense in 2021. Maybe he’s holding a grudge.
All jokes aside, the staff needs to realize that the offense is better when Walker is touching the ball more and Charbonnet is a clear No. 2. Literally everyone sees it.