One player shouldn’t make all the difference. If a team has to rely on a single entity, day-in and day-out, then it’s one-dimensional and ripe for disappointment.

After scoring 5 rushing TDs during a 37-33 win Saturday vs. No. 6 Michigan, Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III stole the college football spotlight and improved his Heisman stock.

He can’t score a rivalry-record 5 rushing TDs every game. He can’t singlehandedly supply all the power for the Spartans, who were No. 8 entering Saturday’s annual run-in with the Wolverines.

And he shouldn’t have to do that.

That’s a lot of pressure on the Wake Forest transfer, and it’s unfair to expect one man to carry the load for everyone else.

Luckily, he doesn’t have to necessarily be that guy.

But his tear through 2021 certainly provides a bit of insurance for the Spartans, who jumped to No. 5 after beating UM. With a player like Walker, the Spartans have someone who can set the tone and lead the charge. In the event that he’s unable to carry the offense, there is a supporting cast of QB Payton Thorne and WRs Jalen Nailor and Jayden Reed.

Michigan State, though, will go as far as Walker takes them. Sure, there are others who can help the Spartans win, but if they’re to reign supreme in the Big Ten and challenge for a spot in the College Football Playoff, Walker has to keep up his current pace.

That doesn’t mean scoring 5 TDs every game, but it does mean rushing for 100-plus and reaching the end zone at least once.

During the Mark Dantonio era, Michigan State had great offenses. Make no mistake, there were QBs and WRs who stood out — but there was always a star back who ran rampant. Without the likes of Edwin Baker, Le’Veon Bell and Jeremy Langford, the Spartans wouldn’t have had the same amount of success.

It was a decade of decadence for MSU, all spearheaded by big-time presences in the backfield.

However, those former star RBs never led the country in rushing or were considered in the Heisman conversation. Walker was the No. 1 rusher in the country for a few weeks. With 1,194 yards, he’s No. 2 now, behind Sean Tucker of Syracuse, who has 1,267.

Walker’s 197 yards vs. Michigan helped pad his average per carry. His 5 TDs vaulted to him to 14 total, the second-most among FBS rushing yard leaders.

Of course, Walker’s own coaches have been impressed with what they’ve seen through 8 games.

But it’s really saying something when an opposing coach delivers praise, especially after blowing a 30-14 lead in the 3rd quarter and ultimately losing 37-33 in East Lansing.

“He had an outstanding performance,”  Jim Harbaugh said. “He’s a very good back — great back.”

Should Walker fizzle out for some reason, the Spartans will still compete during their final 4 games of the regular season. That seems unlikely, but it’s something to think about. However, if he remains on his current pace, there is no reason why the Spartans shouldn’t become a favorite to unseat Ohio State as the best in the Big Ten.

Walker can score from anywhere. He went for 50-plus and a couple 20-plus runs vs. Michigan on Saturday. Once he touches the ball, there is no telling what he’ll do — well, excluding making defenders look silly and gaining the majority of his yards after contact.

The Spartans might not have a Heisman winner — they never have in their history — but they do have a superstar who should be the favorite to win the Doak Walker Award.

Maybe they’ll rename it as the Kenneth Walker Award?