NFL Draft Profile: Matt Waletzko, Offensive Tackle, North Dakota Fighting Hawks
#76
Pos: OT
Ht: 6080
Wt: 312
Hand: 1028
Arm: 3518
Wing: N/A
40: 5.03
Bench: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Vert: 30
Broad: 905
DOB: 12/15/_
Eligible: 2022
Cold Spring, MN
Rocori High School
Matt Waletzko
North Dakota Fighting Hawks
One-Liners
An intriguing small-school prospect, Matt Waletzko’s length, strength and large frame give him starting potential at the NFL level. That said, he exhibits middling movement skills and flawed technique.
Pros:
Waletzko has your prototypical tall and long build for an offensive tackle. Pre-snap, he shows good flexibility in his knee bend. As a run blocker, he shows extremely good power and leg drive to make good contact at the point of attack and continue his blocking path upfield or seal the gap. He shows fair athleticism, being able to swing outside or move fairly naturally into the second level. He uses a wide stance that has strength extending from his base. When he uses that wide stance consistently, he displays very good ability to anchor and stay balanced. Flashes foot quickness in pass protection to protect the arch of the pocket. He has spent time at both, left and right, tackle positions.
Cons:
As a pass blocker, his initial lateral foot movement is sub-par and makes him constantly test his length around the edge. His first step is almost non-existent as he can’t get much movement off the jump. His technique and hand placement can still get a lot better. He tends to make good contact, but can’t hold his grip on the defender because of where he places his hands initially. He also over-reaches at times causing him to lose balance and stumble forward. He has balance and stability issues as a run blocker. These balance issues stem from his size and tendency to stay upright through his reps, rather than use a wider base more consistently. Also stemming from his size is his high punch location, which doesn’t help in his efforts to maintain his blocks past the initial pop.
Summary:
As an FCS prospect, Matt Waletzko has the traits to dominate at that level including size, length and power. When projecting to the next level, he will pass the measurables test with flying colors because of how long he is. In all facets of the game, he demonstrates extremely good power and pop. He excels as a pass blocker because of his flexibility, length and ability to slide down the pocket while holding his balance with a wide base. His concerns stem from his big frame, as it causes stability issues that lead to unbalanced reps. He also tends to put his hands way too high on the defender. Waletzko can still be an intriguing player to develop because of the intangibles that cannot be taught.
Background:
Born December 15th in Cold Spring, Minnesota, Matt Waletzko played high school football at Rocori High School. The talented tackle was not ranked by 247Sports Composite Rankings. 247Sports Recruiting, itself, listed Waletzko as a two-star recruit. The same service named him the 29th-overall recruit in Minnesota and the 297th-ranked offensive tackle in his class. A 310-pound high school senior, Waletzko has seen his body transform since stepping foot on North Dakota’s campus. The Minnesota native was listed at 320 pounds as a sophomore before dropping to 296 for his junior year. He is listed at 295 entering his senior season. Waletzko has accumulated an impressive amount of experience for the Fighting Hawks. He was named to All Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team last year. Further, Waletzko is an outstanding student. He is a sociology major and boasts a 3.805-grade point average. He was selected to the 2020 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic First Team.
Waletzko committed to North Dakota and as a true freshman in 2018, he appeared in nine games and started five at left tackle. In 2019, he started six games before a season-ending injury. In 2020, he started all seven games and helped UND lead the nation with the fewest number of negative plays and only two allowed sacks. In 2021, he started eight games, had his best season yet and was named a semi-finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. This trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership
Grades
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
6.3 / 8.1
Floor/Ceiling: Developmental / Below-Average Starter
Scheme Fit: Zone Blocking, Pass-Heavy Offense
Grade: Early 5th Round
Injury History: Season-ending achilles injury in 2019. Upper-body injury in 2021 against Illinois State.
Character Notes: N/A
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