Ex-Michigan State football star Kenneth Walker III helps Seattle in return to 'second home'

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Kenneth Walker III ran out of the tunnel at Ford Field and while surveying the fans, he saw something he hadn't seen in quite some time.

"It was cool being able to see a lot of people with my jersey on," Walker said after the Lions' 48-45 loss on Sunday. "I don’t see that as much (anymore). I’m just a rookie, but it was pretty great seeing a lot of the fans just show support even though they are rooting for the Lions.

"(Michigan) is like a second home to me. I’m originally from Memphis, a lot of people don’t know that, but it’s like a second home to me because a lot of people show support to me and I love it."

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Walker and the Seahawks ran through the Lions' defense. The former Michigan State football star ran eight times for 29 yards, including a 13-yard end-around carry early in the second quarter. His lone pass catch went for a loss of 5, when Malcolm Rodriguez read a screen pass and dropped Walker in the backfield.

Last year's Doak Walker Award winner, who missed Week 1 while he was still recovering from hernia surgery, is still working his way into Pete Carroll's system, but had more rushes on Sunday than in his first two games combined, when he ran seven total times for a combined 29 yards.

"I’m feeling comfortable," he said. "Every game is different but just practicing and preparing for that week I’m feeling a lot more confident."

He said he's enjoying learning behind a veteran back like Rashaad Penny, who torched the Lions on Sunday for 151 yards rushing — 143 of which came in the second half — and two touchdowns.

While they split time in the backfield, Penny spent years waiting his turn behind Chris Carson and has given the same advice to Walker that he was given himself.

"Just stay patient," Walker said of the No. 1 thing he's learned. "He always tell me to stay patient and my opportunity will come."

Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs against Michigan defensive back R.J. Moten (6) during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021.
Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs against Michigan defensive back R.J. Moten (6) during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021.

As for his alma mater, the wheels have fallen off for the Spartans, who have dropped three consecutive games for the first time since 2019.

Last season, as a transfer from Wake Forest, Walker ran 263 times for 1,636 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns, propelling MSU to an 11-2 season.

While he said he didn't have a chance to catch up with the MSU staff while he was here, he pushed back against the notion that he was the difference between the team being 5-7 and 11-2.

"I don’t really get into that," he said. "There could be a lot of stuff going on right now and the only people who know what’s going on are the one’s that’s behind the doors.

"I know it’s not going the way they want it to go, but they just gotta keep going and that’s with anybody. So I would just tell them to keep going."

Contact Tony Garcia at apgarcia@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @realtonygarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kenneth Walker III helps beat Detroit Lions in return to 'second home'