Matt Waletzko
{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Matt Waletzko
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Dallas Cowboys
| number = 79
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|12|15}}
| birth_place = Cold Spring, Minnesota, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 305
| high_school = Rocori {{avoid wrap|(Cold Spring)}}
| college = North Dakota (2018–2021)
| draftyear = 2022
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 155
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2022}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- First-team All-MVFC (2021)
- Second-team All-MVFC (2020)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 11
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = WaleMa00
}}
Matt Waletzko (born December 15, 1999) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
Early life
Waletzko grew up in Cold Spring, Minnesota and attended Rocori High School.{{Cite web |last=Dwyer |first=Zach |date=April 28, 2022 |title=Where do experts think ROCORI's Waletzko could land in the NFL Draft? |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/2022/04/28/where-do-experts-think-rocoris-waletzko-could-land-nfl-draft/9570405002/ |access-date=April 29, 2022 |website=St. Cloud Times}} He was a two-way player as a senior.
College career
Waletzko was a member of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks for four seasons. The team pulled his redshirt designation, allowing him to play in nine games and start the final five contests of the season at left tackle as a true freshman.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Tom |date=April 27, 2022 |title=Matt Waletzko's transformation as a UND rookie started the path to this weekend's NFL Draft |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/matt-waletzkos-transformation-as-a-und-rookie-started-the-path-to-this-weekends-nfl-draft |access-date=April 29, 2022 |website=Grand Forks Herald}}
Waletzko started the first six games of his sophomore season before suffering a season-ending knee injury (torn left ACL).{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2022 |title=How Matt Waletzko is approaching an NFL future with the Senior Bowl |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/2022/02/01/matt-waletzko-nfl-draft-north-dakota-football-senior-bowl-rocori/6620183001/ |access-date=April 29, 2022 |website=St. Cloud Times}}
He started all seven of UND's games during his junior season, which was shortened and played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was named second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). He was part of an offensive line that led the Football Championship Subdivision and ranked third in the nation in sacks allowed (2) and led the nation with the fewest number of negative plays (24).
Waletzko started the first ten games of his senior season before missing his final game due to a left shoulder injury and was named first-team All-MVFC.{{Cite web |last=Thorn |first=Brandon |date=January 29, 2022 |title=Matt Waletzko NFL Draft 2022: Scouting Report for North Dakota OT |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10021409-matt-waletzko-nfl-draft-2022-scouting-report-for-north-dakota-ot |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report}} He was part of an offensive line that led the Football Championship Subdivision and ranked third in the nation in sacks allowed (3), while ranking second in the Missouri Valley Conference and fifth in the nation in fewest negative plays allowed (5).{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2021 |title=Matt Waletzko named HERO Sports FCS All-American |url=https://fightinghawks.com/news/2021/12/14/football-matt-waletzko-named-hero-sports-fcs-all-american.aspx |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=fightinghawks.com}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 7 5/8
| weight = 312
| dash = 5.03
| ten split = 1.73
| twenty split = 2.87
| shuttle = 4.59
| cone drill = 7.26
| vertical = 30.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 5
| bench = 28
| arm span = 36 1/8
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = Sources:{{Cite web |title=Matt Waletzko Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/matt-waletzko/32005741-4c06-2140-fce3-61ae5ec8a242 |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2022 Draft Scout Matt Waletzko, North Dakota NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1055661&DraftYear=2022 |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
Waletzko was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (155th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft.{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Cowboys use pick acquired in Amari Cooper trade to select North Dakota OT Matt Waletzko |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2022/04/30/dallas-cowboys-select-north-dakota-ot-matt-waletzko-with-no-155-pick-in-5th-round-of-nfl-draft/ |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=The Dallas Morning News}} The Cowboys previously obtained the selection in the trade that sent Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns. He was given a chance to compete with second-year player Josh Ball for the reserve swing tackle position. He suffered a shoulder subluxation, when his previous injury resurfaced during the second practice of training camp. He missed most of the preseason with the shoulder injury that eventually would require surgery. He played in the third preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. He played mostly on special teams in the first three games of the season. His only offensive snap was a play that helped spring running back Ezekiel Elliott for a 1-yard touchdown in a 23–16 win against the New York Giants. He again suffered a left shoulder subluxation while practicing for the seventh game of the season. He was placed on injured reserve on October 22, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Charean |date=October 22, 2022 |title=Cowboys place Matt Waletzko on injured reserve, sign Carlos Watkins |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/10/22/cowboys-place-matt-waletzko-on-injured-reserve-sign-carlos-watkins/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=Pro Football Talk |publisher=NBC Sports}}
On August 30, 2023, Waletzko was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Patrik |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Cowboys move two to IR, reveal 2023 practice squad |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-move-two-to-ir-reveal-2023-practice-squad |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=DallasCowboys.com}} He was activated on December 27, 2023.{{cite web | last=Alper | first=Josh | title=Cowboys activate Matt Waletzko, waive Rashaan Evans | website=NBC Sports | date=2023-12-27 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cowboys-activate-matt-waletzko-waive-rashaan-evans | access-date=2024-07-16}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/players-roster/matt-waletzko/ Dallas Cowboys bio]
- [https://fightinghawks.com/sports/football/roster/matt-waletzko/10608 North Dakota Fighting Hawks bio]
{{Cowboys2022DraftPicks}}
{{Dallas Cowboys roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waletzko, Matt}}
Category:People from Stearns County, Minnesota
Category:Players of American football from Minnesota
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks football players