Kenneth Walker III gives Tennessee high school football its first Super Bowl MVP

Kenneth Walker III completed a masterpiece during the final game under his four-year rookie contract. The running back finished with 27 carries for 135 yards and 161 total yards to help the Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl 60 over the New England Patriots. His impact on the game deservedly earned him Super Bowl MVP honors.

While others have won that award from the NFL’s biggest game, Kenneth Walker III is the first Tennessee high school football product to claim that prestigious honor. Walker attended Arlington High School and completed his career with 3,485 yards and 41 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ best record came during Walker’s junior season, when they went 7-4. After high school, he then played for Wake Forest before transferring to Michigan State.

Super Bowl MVPs with California high school football roots top the list with ten: Lynn Swann, Jim Plunkett, Marcus Allen, Larry Brown, Terrell Davis, John Elway, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Malcolm Smith, and Julian Edelman. Texas ranks second with six Super Bowl MVPs: Harvey Martin, Drew Brees, Von Miller, Nick Foles, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts.

Florida is third with five MVPs: Ottis Anderson, Emmitt Smith, Ray Lewis, Dexter Jackson, and Santonio Holmes. Ohio (Len Dawson, Roger Staubach, Larry Csonka, Desmond Howard) and Louisiana (Terry Bradshaw, Doug Williams, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning) are tied for fourth.

Pennsylvania (Joe Namath, Fred Biletnikoff, Joe Montana), Georgia (Richard Dent, Deion Branch, Hines Ward), New Jersey (Franco Harris, Joe Flacco), and Washington (Mark Rypien, Cooper Kupp) are the other states with multiple Super Bowl MVPs.

Completing the list are Super Bowl MVPs who played high school football in Alabama (Bart Starr), West Virginia (Chuck Howley), Maryland (Jake Scott), Delaware (Randy White), Kansas (John Riggins), Kentucky (Phil Simms), Mississippi (Jerry Rice), Oklahoma (Troy Aikman), Connecticut (Steve Young), and Iowa (Kurt Warner). Kenneth Walker III is the 50^th NFL player to win this award.