The Seahawks added a bigtime playmaker to their running game in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III.
On a conference call with Seattle-area media, Walker said getting the call from the Seahawks “was amazing. I always say it’s like when I’m growing up, you see guys on TV that go to this and you dream of this moment. And this day is actually here so it’s surreal and it’s a blessing to be in this position.”
Walker comes to Seattle after a very productive year in which he rushed for 1,636 yards, the second most in the nation amongst FBS backs, while averaging 6.2 yards per carry and scoring 18 touchdowns. Walker finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting, and won the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Doak Walker award as the nation’s top running back, and was an Associated Press first-team All-American and the Big Ten Running Back of the Year.
Walker described himself as “versatile. I’m a physical runner. Explosive. I’m able to run routes out of the backfield. I just play hard and with a chip on my shoulder.”
Walker adds to an already deep running back room that is led by Rashaad Penny and Chris Carson, and also includes Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas and Josh Johnson. Of that group, however, only Dallas is under contract beyond the 2022 season.