Kenneth Walker III, Connor Heyward help teams clinch season-ending wins

Both Kenneth Walker III and Connor Heyward ended their rookie regular seasons with huge games, clinching wins for their respective teams.

Two Michigan State rookies in the NFL have been busy making names for themselves all season long. Kenneth Walker III led all rookie running backs with over 1,000 rushing yards and Connor Heyward made some truly clutch plays for the Steelers.

With the season coming to an end on Sunday evening, both guys had one final opportunity (at least in the regular season) to impress and potentially show coaches that they deserve to start in 2023 and beyond.

Neither disappointed.

Both guys made plays on Sunday that essentially locked up wins for their respective teams and that’s not even an exaggeration.

Heyward made a 27-yard catch against the Browns in the fourth quarter on a third-and-long that set up a touchdown drive and Walker made play after play against the Rams, including a 21-yard burst in overtime, to send the Seahawks to the playoffs.

Let’s take a look at all of the big plays Walker made to help send his team to the playoffs with a win over the Rams.

Kenneth Walker to Leonard Floyd:

"Now you see me, now you don’t"

(Credit: @NFL )#Seahawks @Kenneth_Walker9 pic.twitter.com/vecBQXRvjn

— Emerald City Sporting News (@ECSN206) January 8, 2023

Seahawks rookie Kenneth Walker with a nice cutback before putting his head down to go through a defender for the first down.

The second-round pick out of Michigan State is running hard today for a shot at the playoffs. He has 114 rushing yards today. pic.twitter.com/yac65RX3eN

— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) January 9, 2023

HUGE 4th down conversation from Kenneth Walker!!! pic.twitter.com/lCwIjcHK0k

— North Fresh (@NorthFreshCane) January 8, 2023

Walker finished the game with over 100 rushing yards and ended the season with 1,050 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

If it weren’t for him stepping up in the backfield, Seattle may not be heading to the playoffs this year (Lions fans wishing that was the case).

Heyward, on the other hand, isn’t headed to the playoffs with the Steelers. They just missed the postseason, but he ended the year with a nice game against rival Cleveland.

With the Steelers up 20-14 and facing a crucial third-and-8 near midfield, Kenny Pickett stepped back and hit Heyward up the middle for a huge gain. And his catch gave MSU fans flashbacks to the Peach Bowl when he scored a late touchdown against Pickett’s Pitt Panthers.

This catch led to a huge insurance touchdown that sealed a big season-ending win over the Browns.

Connor Heyward finishes the TOUGH catch for the Steelers gain ?pic.twitter.com/pfynvJlXDT

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 8, 2023

Heyward finished the game with three catches for 45 yards and the season with 12 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. If he continues to play like this, he’ll have a long NFL career.

Michigan State’s rookies really showed up this season and led their respective teams to some nice wins, including in the season finale.

The future is bright for Kenneth Walker III and Connor Heyward.