The 2022 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Kenneth Walker 2022 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Running Back
Size: 5-foot-10, 210 pounds
Class: Junior
2021 stats: 1,646 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 6.2 yards per carry, 13 catches, 89 receiving yards, 1 touchdown catch
Walker was one of the most improved players in the country this year for Michigan State. He is now one of the best running backs in the 2022 NFL Draft class.
Out of Tennessee, Walker was a three-star recruit who chose to go to Wake Forest out of high school. He rushed for 579 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman. The Demon Deacons went 8-5 with an appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl that season. In 2020, Walker rushed for 579 yards again and also totaled 13 rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, Wake Forest struggled to a 4-5 record in a COVID-shortened season. Following the season, he decided to transfer to Michigan State. He was able to win the Doak Walker Award as the country’s top running back by rushing for 1,646 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Spartans benefitted from his presence and went 11-2 with a Peach Bowl win to end the season.
Following the regular season, Walker declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a second or third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Walker has a nice build for a running back at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds. He runs hard and shows solid contact balance. Because he has solid size, defenders bounce right off of him. He should be durable at the next level due to his size and his limited wear and tear.
His elusiveness is also solid, especially in short areas. He can make defenders miss in a phone booth because he has good quickness and agility. His running style is violent, which already helps him make defenders miss, but the moves he can put on defenders help him maximize his runs.
He has great ball security despite fighting for extra yards. Walker will rarely fumble and makes sure to protect the football. He can be trusted to carry the ball in late-game situations when a team is just trying to run out the clock. Walker can also be trusted in goal-line situations, as he has a nose for the endzone, while still showing ball security.
Right now, Walker is just an early-down back. He didn’t offer much as a pass-catcher at the collegiate level. Walker will need to work on his route-running, expanding his route tree and his pass-catching to be a threat as a receiver. On top of that, he doesn’t appear to be a willing blocker in pass protection. Teams can use him for clear running situations, but they may be better off with a different back on passing downs.
While he is capable of long runs, he won’t be one of the fastest running backs in the class. He has big runs because he runs hard and can make people miss. Walker has solid speed, but likely won’t be breaking a lot of huge runs at the next level.
His running style may not work well at the next level. He runs hard and tries to overpower defenders, but NFL defenders are a lot bigger. Defenders will be able to tackle him and Walker sometimes tries to make too much out of a play when nothing is there. His running so hard is admirable, but ultimately it may not be as effective at the next level.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
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