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MSU football adds Wake Forest running back Kenneth Walker III via transfer portal

January 7, 2021
<p>Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker at the Spartans&#x27; game against Iowa on Nov. 7, 2020. Photo Courtesy of MSU Athletic Communications.</p>

Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker at the Spartans' game against Iowa on Nov. 7, 2020. Photo Courtesy of MSU Athletic Communications.

Michigan State football and their coaching staff continue to be aggressive in the transfer portal by bringing in former Wake Forest sophomore running back Kenneth Walker III to East Lansing.

Walker, who announced his decision on Twitter on Wednesday, ran for 579 yards and 13 touchdowns in a shortened season.

The running back tallied the numbers despite only playing seven games and toting the rock 119 times for the Demon Deacons.

After only receiving six carries in his first game of the season against Clemson, Walker went on to score at least one touchdown in the next six games, including three touchdowns in games against North Carolina State, Virginia and Syracuse before eventually not seeing the field after the game against UNC.

Walker entered the transfer portal at the beginning of the year and will follow former Auburn running back Harold Joiner III as the two running backs to join the Spartans backfield via the transfer portal.

Michigan State will have a crowded backfield next fall with Jordon Simmons’ emergence in the running back room, Elijah Collins looking to bounce back after not seeing the field much this season after a standout freshman season and Connor Heyward who proved vital in pass protection and as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

The Spartans lost sophomore running back Anthony Williams Jr. via the transfer portal earlier this year, making the room less crowded and opening up reps for other running backs like Joiner and Walker.

MSU is clearly looking to expand their run game after a dismal season on the ground that saw only two players find the endzone via a rushing touchdown and neither of the two — tight end Tyler Hunt and quarterback Payton Thorne — were running backs.

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