Mark Walen

Mark Hartley Walen (born March 10, 1963) is a former professional American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd round (74th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft.

Early years

Walen attended Burlingame High School before moving on to UCLA. He became a starter at defensive tackle as a junior. As a fifth year senior he was a key part of the seventh ranked total defense (number 1 in rush defense),^[1] that included the play of Ken Norton Jr., Carnell Lake, James Washington, Jim Wahler and Darryl Henley. After finishing the season with 9 sacks, he received Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, second-team All-American and All-Pac-10 honors.^[2]

In his college career he recorded 20 sacks and 30 tackles for loss. In 2005 he was inducted into the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Walen was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft. As a rookie he was lost for the year after fracturing a bone in his right ankle, during a 1 1/2-mile run on the last day of the Cowboys' rookie orientation.^[3] His best season came in 1988, when in a reserve role (started only 2 games) he registered 4 sacks. The next season he emerged as one of the full-time starters on the defensive line, but was placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a torn interior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a pre-season game against the Los Angeles Raiders.^[4]

In 1990, he was waived after leaving the team in training camp, in reaction to being moved to the offensive line and then back again to the defensive line in the span of a week.^[5]

References