Matt Waletzko

Matt Waletzko
No. 79 – Dallas Cowboys
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1999-12-15) December 15, 1999 (age 25)
Cold Spring, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight:305 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High school:Rocori
(Cold Spring, Minnesota)
College:North Dakota (2018–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / round: 5 / pick: 155
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-MVFC (2021)
  • Second-team All-MVFC (2020)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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 at North Dakota.

Early life

Waletzko grew up in Cold Spring, Minnesota and attended Rocori High School.[1] 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.[2]

Waletzko started the first six games of his sophomore season before suffering a season-ending knee injury (torn left ACL).[3]

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.[4] 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).[5]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 7+5⁄8 in
(2.02 m) 		312 lb
(142 kg) 		36+1⁄8 in
(0.92 m) 		10+1⁄4 in
(0.26 m)		 5.03 s 1.73 s 2.87 s 4.59 s 7.26 s 30.0 in
(0.76 m)		 9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		 28 reps
Sources:[6][7]

Waletzko was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (155th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft.[8] 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.[9]

On August 30, 2023, Waletzko was placed on injured reserve.[10] He was activated on December 27, 2023.[11]

References

  1. ^ Dwyer, Zach (April 28, 2022). "Where do experts think ROCORI's Waletzko could land in the NFL Draft?". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Miller, Tom (April 27, 2022). "Matt Waletzko's transformation as a UND rookie started the path to this weekend's NFL Draft". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  3. ^ "How Matt Waletzko is approaching an NFL future with the Senior Bowl". St. Cloud Times. February 1, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  4. ^ Thorn, Brandon (January 29, 2022). "Matt Waletzko NFL Draft 2022: Scouting Report for North Dakota OT". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  5. ^ "Matt Waletzko named HERO Sports FCS All-American". fightinghawks.com. December 14, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "Matt Waletzko Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Matt Waletzko, North Dakota NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "Cowboys use pick acquired in Amari Cooper trade to select North Dakota OT Matt Waletzko". The Dallas Morning News. April 30, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  9. ^ Williams, Charean (October 22, 2022). "Cowboys place Matt Waletzko on injured reserve, sign Carlos Watkins". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  10. ^ Walker, Patrik (August 30, 2023). "Cowboys move two to IR, reveal 2023 practice squad". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  11. ^ Alper, Josh (December 27, 2023). "Cowboys activate Matt Waletzko, waive Rashaan Evans". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 16, 2024.