Tag: North Dakota Fighting Hawks

North Dakota’s Matt Waletzko is one of the best FCS prospects to enter the 2022 NFL draft.

It’s apparent just by looking at him that he’s built to play at the NFL level. Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 310 pounds, Waletzko offers fantastic length for an offensive tackle. Beyond that, he possesses impressive athleticism for his size, as well as the raw strength needed to hold his own at the point of attack. He dominated during his time at North Dakota, and now he looks to succeed at the NFL level.

Draft Wire had the chance to speak exclusively with Waletzko about his pre-draft preparation, his experience at the Senior Bowl, adjusting to playing two seasons in the span of 12 months, and much more.

JI: You’ve had an illustrious career at North Dakota, starting all but 4 games you played in 4 years, and being one of the best linemen in the FCS. Looking back on it now, what was your favorite moment of your college career?

MW: That’s a tough question. Favorite moment? Honestly, if I had to pick one, I’d probably say the day that I was nominated captain for our team. I think it was a big thing for me and a big goal that I wanted to do. I think that was probably the biggest part of my career.

JI: How has your leadership ability grown since being named as a captain?

MW: I definitely transitioned my leadership skills. [I] became more of a vocal leader as I went on throughout my career, and I think, my freshman, sophomore years seeing the older guys, the captains of those years, do it. I just took some things that they did, and kind of just took it into my own hands to be a leader for that team and do what I could to change the culture and develop a culture that was a winning environment.

JI: You’ve faced some adversity along the way, like your knee injury, and the COVID year. How would you say those experiences have molded you as a player and a person?

MW: Yeah, obviously COVID, then I had an injury, as you mentioned, a couple of years ago, and it was a knee injury. I was sidelined for the last half of the year, and that’s kind of where I started developing that leadership style. Obviously, I couldn’t play, so I had to take on a new role with the team and be a voice for the other guys in the o-line room, and just really anyone on the team and do what I could in any way that I really could. And then COVID, obviously, that throws a curveball. We went in there, 2020 summer, we were going in when COVID was still new yet and we didn’t know [about it]. We thought we were gonna play in the fall, and we were practicing during the summer conditioning itself like we were gonna play in the fall. Obviously, we didn’t do that. Being able to have that positive mindset through that fall season when all those bigger FBS schools were playing, it was hard, seeing those guys playing and us not being able to. I kind of developed that growth mindset that we’ll have a season in the spring, and we will get our chance.

JI: What was this past offseason like, coming off of the spring season and jumping right back into the fall season?

MW: It was completely different, playing two seasons in one calendar year. It was crazy. I think in the spring, we ended up playing seven games, in the fall we played 11. That transition from spring to fall, getting into summer workouts – I don’t even know when our last game was…late April, maybe even May, I don’t know – but so then, they give us a little more time off in summer, we ease back into workouts just because we knew we’re gonna have to play another year or another season the upcoming fall. It was definitely a change and definitely kind of hard on the body right away. Once you get into it, you’re into it.

JI: Especially considering how tall you are, you’re an impressive athlete as an offensive tackle. Sometimes taller linemen can struggle with agility and flexibility. How have you worked to avoid that?

MW: I think a lot of it [is] going through my career and just developing my body, and obviously getting stronger and leaner in the weight room. I do a lot of yoga and stretching outside of football; I think that plays a big part into my game, just because like you said, being able to play offensive line as tall as I am, I need to bend. I need to be agile in space, move. I think that doing yoga and everything, getting in these weird positions, for that big guy like me, when we get onto the football field, I think it really just helps even your hip mobility, your ankles, just everything that you need to be an offensive lineman.

JI: You recently had the chance to go down to Mobile for the Senior Bowl. What was that experience like for you?

MW: Yeah, that was an awesome experience, that opportunity. Jim Nagy and just everyone there was obviously incredible, going on down there, just competing with the best of the best in the country. I was just fortunate to be able to go down there, come out healthy and just showcase my abilities to the nation and to the world.

JI: What was it like being able to meet with NFL coaches and scouts?

MW: [I got] really good feedback. I think that whole week was really cool. Obviously, I was coached by the Jets staff, and it was just an awesome experience, just to be able to have that week with NFL coaches and how they do things, their playbook. Obviously, not as many plays, but just the basic stuff, their techniques, meeting styles, just everything. It was amazing. But yeah, going through the week, it was meeting with all those different teams, it was really fun just to be able to explain yourself, where you came from, how you play, what makes you tick, so yeah, it was really fun.

JI: Heading into the NFL Scouting Combine, you’ve been working at Exos throughout the pre-draft process. Do you have any specific goals in mind you want to reach?

MW: Not necessarily specific numbers. If I can honestly just run as fast, jump as high and put up as many bench reps as I can…I’m pretty athletic for my size, so I’ll hopefully be able to be in the top tier for those kinds of events.

JI: Which offensive linemen have you grown up idolizing?

MW: For a long time when I was growing up, there was Joe Thomas. He’s one of the best to ever do it. He’s just a technician, how he just uses different techniques against different players. Someone I’ve been watching recently is Andrew Whitworth. He’s 40 years old and still one of the best in the league doing it. He’s big, tall, kind of a linear guy, long arms, kind of similar to me. [I’m] watching him and just watch what he does and learn anything new I can from him.

JI: How do you like to spend your free time outside of football?

MW: I’m living down in Arizona right now. I love to hike, I love to go outside, just take walks. I love to read. When I’m back home in Minnesota, you’ll catch me fishing out on the lakes all year round, winter [or] summer.

JI: I know hockey and ice fishing are huge up there. Do you have experience with either of those?

MW: I never played hockey. I always played the boot hockey on the ice with buddies, but I don’t even think I can skate, if they make skates big enough for me [laughs]. But I like ice fishing. I’ll go ice fishing all the time. I love that.

JI: Let’s say I’m an NFL general manager. What would I be getting if I drafted you to my team?

MW: You’d be getting a mean, tough, physical, smart offensive lineman who is competitive and won’t back down from any challenges.

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