Ad Disclosure
Mel Tucker reveals his message for Kenneth Walker III after Heisman snub
Published:
Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy for Alabama on Saturday night.
Young became the first quarterback from Alabama to win the award, taking the lion’s share of first-place votes over Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett, and Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud.
One player that didn’t make it as a finalist from the B1G was Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker had 1,636 yards rushing with 18 touchdowns in 2021. While he wasn’t considered for the Heisman Trophy, he did take home the Doak Walker and Walter Camp Player of the Year award.
Here’s what his coach told him after not getting invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation per Colton Pouncey of The Athletic and Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press.
Mel Tucker said he had a conversation with Kenneth Walker III when he didn’t get an invite to New York. Here’s what he told him:
“The awards — the ones you win, the ones you don’t win — they don’t define you as a person or as a player. Keep that in mind. We appreciate you.”
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) December 13, 2021
Tucker on Walker not getting a Heisman invite to NYC: “I personally wanted to see him invited to New York for that, but it didn’t happen, but it doesn’t take away from who he is as a player and a person. I think everyone knows what kind of player he is.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 13, 2021
It appears that Walker will be heading for the 2022 NFL Draft after this season as many people believe he will be one of the first running backs taken.
Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.