Rookie running back Kenneth Walker III is already proving himself to be a worthwhile draft pick for the Seattle Seahawks. Walker was drafted by the Seahawks with the 41st overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft from the Michigan State Spartans.
Walker III came into the league after a Heisman finalist season in his final year as a Michigan State Spartan, carrying the ball 263 times for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns. NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah and host of NFL Podcast “Move the Sticks” wrote: ““He shows vast improvement in the passing game…and earns third-down opportunities as the season progresses.”
Seattle’s head coach Pete Carroll is confident that Kenneth Walker III is going to be a great fit for their team. When asked about drafting Kenneth Walker III, he had this to say.
“It helps to see him run all of the variety of the plays,” head coach Pete Carroll said about drafting Walker. “There are a lot of shotgun runs that are happening in college football, it’s pretty zone oriented and straightforward. They had an NFL style running game and they did a little bit of everything, so you are able to see him run zone schemes, run gap scheme principles, and he’s really effective in the counter game. It was a really good illustration of a guy being able to blossom with a variety of the run game, so it makes sense to us how he really could fit in.”
With a young and skillful offensive line, and former Seattle running back Chris Carson announcing his retirement, there is a huge opportunity for a young promising running back like Kenneth Walker III. Reports have shown that Walker knows this as well, as he's been seen at the facility constantly working on his game and taking care of his body. He’s already turning heads at training camp, gaining the attention of Seahawks GM John Schneider.
“He’s had a great camp,” Seahawks general manager John Schneider said. “He acts like a second- or third-year pro. He takes care of his body. He's here early in the morning. He's here late at night. It's important to him and he doesn't back down from anybody. He's gained the respect of the veterans right away.”
