Kellyen “Kell” Walker was a 2 star football recruit with a 5.3 rating by Rivals when he chose Army West Point over 4 FCS offers back in 2015.
After playing a year at USMAPS, Walker was one of 56 football recruits welcomed to the Black Knights by Jeff Monken on 27 June, 2016. He quickly established his credentials as a player worthy of a higher rating by making his collegiate debut in the opening game against Temple as a plebe. He appeared in all 13 games as a plebe, rushing for 378 yards on 58 carries (6.2 yards per attempt) with 2 rushing touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 30 yards as a plebe.
He was a regular starter in the backfield as a yearling in 2017 and earned a spot on Phil Steele’s All Independent Team. He ranked third on the team in rushing yardage with 629 yards in 86 carries (7.3 yards per carry) with 6 rushing touchdowns. He made 5 to the team’s 20 receptions that year to lead the team in receiving yardage with 111 yards.
Going into the 2018 season, the coaching staff gave serious consideration to moving him to quarterback to take full advantage of his running skills, but after he lost the battle to Kelvin Hopkins for the QB position he returned to his familiar role as a starter at slotback. He dropped to fourth on the team in Rushing Yardage with 349 yards in 67 carries (4.8 yards per carry) and finished second on the team in receiving with 11 receptions for 170 yards and one touchdown.
After 4 games this season, Walker ranks second on the team in rushing yardage with 161 yards in 19 attempts for an 8.4 yard average per carry. He is tied for second in receptions with one catch for 17 yards.
“One of the things that is most impressive about Kell is how versatile he is and all the different things that he can do with the ball,” Army offensive coordinator Brent Davis told GoBlackKnights.com. “He is really a good receiver as well and he’s a slashy kind of runner, he’s good at finding a crease and shoving right through it. He has good balance and hard to knock off his feet and he’s tough. He’s just a good all-around player and he’s also doing a good job blocking for us. He is a complete slotback for us and obviously he’s a guy we would like to get the ball to. Sometimes we are able to do that more than others, but that also depends on what we have to do in that particular game. But certainly he’s the guy that needs to touch the ball.”
So, is there any expectations that Head Coach Jeff Monken and Davis will attempt to get the ball more in the hands of the 5-foot-9, 195 pound senior out of Decatur, Georgia?
“That's something we talked about and it’s a matter ... it can’t just fit him, but it has to fit the rest of our team as well,” Davis stated. Certain schemes are easier to get him the ball. So it’s not that we don’t think he can do something with the ball and hopefully as we go, we’ll be able to get him more opportunities and so going forward that is something we definitely want to do.”
“Goodness, he’s good with the ball .... just look at what he has averaged over the course of his career, it’s pretty phenomenal. “
Even with Walker’s production and the Black Knights holding a 3-1 record, Coach Monken wasn’t a happy camper after Saturday’s victory over Morgan State. So we asked Walker what must this team finally do to make sure that are cylinders are popping at the same time?
“We don’t have to go in there and run trick plays or go in there and change our personnel and we don’t have to go in there and change anything besides our attitude and effort and the effort that we have been giving,” he declared.
“The season so far, we’ve played some of the best football that we’ve ever played and we’ve played some of the worse football that we’ve ever played. The problem is, is that it’s been a roller coaster on how we’ve been doing ... lows and highs. Fortunately we’ve had opportunities to win even when we were playing like crap and that can do now is control what we can control, play to the best of our ability and that’s what we have to do this Saturday and follow the plan that Coach Monken has set up for us and we have to go in there and execute ... that's what it’s going to come down to.”
Our guess is that Walker will begin to carry more of the weight when it comes to the Army running game. When GBK spoke with Coach Davis,
he describe Walker’s style of running as a slasher. So we asked the senior to chime in on his characterization of his own running style and is there a player out there that you mimic your game after and why?
“When I first started playing football, I fell in love with how Tavon Austin played football,” explained Walker. “He was a smaller guy, but he was very quick and agile and making people miss in open space. He got the job done and still watch his highlights before every game. I feel that his style of running is my style of running. Just like Coach Davis said, I try to make people miss in open space and I try to fight for as many yards as I can and that’s what I bring to this offense.”
Since his time at West Point, and under the football leadership of Monken, there has been a wave of successes. So, what one moment did Walker point to in his time as player, but also as a team ... that stands out the most in terms of accomplishment/excitement?
“I would definitely say the 2017 bowl game against San Diego State and we were down, had a 90-yard drive and score and had a two-point conversion to win the game,” Walker explained. “I think that game stands out and in terms of turning point for Army football, I think that game we showed grit, toughness and determination to win and you remember, San Diego State had a tremendous team and a great running back and great athletes.”
“That game was the turning point for Army football. Because look what happen the next season. We had the best season we ever had.”
We took the conversation to a more lighter topic of conversation and we just had to have Walker tell us the truth ... who is the fastest between him and fellow starting slotback, Artice Hobbs?
“Uhhhh, I really want to modest right now and say him, but ..... {laughing},” shared a joking Walker, without providing a definitive answer.
But what is definitive is that Army fans have become accustom to the slashing running back making that big play. Remember the breakaway 51-yard run as he did in the opening offensive series last year versus Navy, making the 17-yard 4th quarter go-ahead TD catch against Rice this season despite his false start penalty the play prior and the list goes on and on.
So what football legacy does he want to leave here at Army West Point?
“From a football stand point, I want people to remember me as a guy who made plays, a guy who gave it all when he was on the field ... if it’s blocking or running the ball ... that’s what I want people to remember me by, but of course I want people to remember the plays because we all want to make plays, score touchdowns and fortunately, I have had the opportunity to do that,” he declared.
And that is how we see Walker on the field throughout this consistent football career at Army ... not only does he have a real motor, but he is NATURALLY elusive and a game changer.
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