2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kenneth Walker

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Kenneth Walker, 5-9/210 Running Back Michigan State

Kenneth Walker Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Physical, tough runner

Will run over defenders

Can pick up yards after contact

Superb ball security

Burst to the second level

Strong build

Body lean

Knee Band

Runs behind his pads

Contact balance

Keeps feet going after contact

Can create for himself

Decisive runner

Strong lower body

Starter bell-cow back ability

Weaknesses:

Will need work as a blitz protector

Receiving skills need development

Doesn’t play as fast as timed speed

More straight line

Not very elusive

Lacks a dominant trait

Summary: Walker started out his career at Wake Forest where he ran for 579 yards per season as a freshman and sophomore. He notched 13 touchdowns for the Demon Deacons in 2020, but he ended up transferring to Michigan State for the 2021 season. Spartans head coach Mel Tucker wisely built the offense around Walker, who ripped off a prolific year, averaging 6.2 yards per carry on his way to 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns. In the passing game, he also had 13 catches for 89 yards and a score – he only had six other receptions over his previous seasons.

There is a lot to like about Walker for the next level, because he is a physical, violent runner who really imposes his will on defenses. Walker is a hard-charging runner with a strong build and will flat out run over tacklers. With excellent contact balance and strength, Walker is hard to get on the ground, as he will charge through tackle attempts to pick up a lot of extra yardage. To go along with the power to push through defenders, Walker has natural knee bend and body lean, he runs behind his pads with good leverage to keep himself on his feet. While Walker is a dangerous North-South runner, he does not have a ton of elusiveness and won’t be a back who jukes NFL defenders with ease.

Walker has more ability for the passing game than was seen in a lot of college, but he did not get a lot of work in his offenses. His hands and route-running look to be average, but he has the upside to get better. Like all college backs, Walker also will need work for blitz protection in the NFL.

Walker could be a sleeper who turns into a nice value pick from the 2022 NFL Draft. He could have an outside shot at being a second-round pick. While he might go in the third or fourth round, it would not be surprising if Walker ends up being better than his draft slot would suggest. Team sources say Walker is a well-rounded runner, is tough, and knows how to tote the ball, but they feel he lacks a dominant trait for the NFL. They feel he could be a really good starter in the right scheme provided there is talent around him.



Player Comparison: Mark Ingram. In terms of running style, Walker reminds me of Ingram as a downhill violent runner who can pick up yards after contact. Walker is nearly identical in size to Ingram (5-9, 215), and I could see Walker being a solid pro for a long time similar to Ingram.

2022 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2022 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Adam Anderson, OLB, Georgia Calvin Austin, WR, Memphis Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri Amaré Barno, OLB, Virginia Tech Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson David Bell, WR, Purdue Nik Bonitto, OLB, Oklahoma Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas Zachary Carter, DE, Florida Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin Lewis Cine, S, Georgia Damone Clark, LB, LSU Micheal Clemons, DE, Texas A&M Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati James Cook, RB, Georgia Yusuf Corker, S, Kentucky Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State Nick Cross, S, Maryland Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida Ikem Ekwonu, OT, N.C. State Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota Luke Fortner, C, Kentucky Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner, CB, Cincinnati Luke Goedeke, G, Central Michigan Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State Logan Hall, DE, Houston Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame Christian Harris, LB, Alabama Daxton Hill, S, Michigan Chasen Hines, G, LSU Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan Ed Ingram, G, LSU Drake Jackson, DE, USC Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida State Zion Johnson, G, Boston College Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah Drake London, WR, USC Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State Boye Mafe, DE, Minnesota Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington Verone McKinley, S, Oregon John Metchie, WR, Alabama Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming David Ojabo, DE, Michigan Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State Cade Otton, TE, Washington Evan Neal, OT, Alabama Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa Nick Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State George Pickens, WR, Georgia Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas Brian Robinson, RB, Alabama Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State Jamaree Salyer, G, Georgia Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M Derek Stingley, CB, LSU Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan State Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State Quay Walker, LB, Georgia Travon Walker, DE, Georgia Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State Zamir White, RB, Georgia Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama Malik Willis, QB, Liberty Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M

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