This blog has covered two drafts, and I have wanted the Cowboys to take a shot on at least one receiver (and not the quarterback-turned-receiver that we got last year). Ain’t going to happen this year, either. Two running backs, two corners, a tight end, and a defensive end.
This analysis from NFL.com doesn’t give me confidence:
Walden only had two sacks as a senior, but still produced 22.5 during his time at Middle Tennessee State. He has the frame to be a rush linebacker in Miami’s 3-4 scheme.
There is much else out there about Walden, but here is what I’ve found.
A video of his Pro Day workout:
And his bio from the Middle Tennessee State site:
2007: Voted a first team All-Sun Belt selection by the league’s coaches and media … Played in 10 games and earned nine starts … Had 46 stops on the season to go along with 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, and a safety … Played 603 total snaps … Named to Rotary Lombardi Watch List in March … Had three sacks in the Blue-White game … Voted preseason all-SBC … Registered four tackles, including one for lost yardage against FAU … Had two tackles at Louisville and LSU … Added six stops, including two for lost yardage and a forced fumble against WKU … Did not play against FIU or UVA due to a toe injury … Played 48 snaps in his return against Memphis but did not have a tackle … Had one stop in win over ASU … Enjoyed a monster game at North Texas with three tackles for loss, a sack, his first career interception, and a safety … Had a career-high 12 tackles, including two for loss of yards at ULM … Registered a personal-best 11 solo tackles against ULL … Had three tackles and a pass breakup at Troy.
2006: Named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference … Played in all 13 games … Had a career-best 48 tackles on the season, including a school record 11.5 sacks (ranked 10th nationally) … Also had three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and 14.5 tackles for loss … Was listed as the starter at left defensive end coming out of spring drills … Tallied five tackles and a forced fumble in the Blue-White Spring Game … Was presented the Dr. James E. Walker Junior Academic award at the spring game … Recorded a sack, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble in 44 snaps against FIU to earn a “winning performance” from the coaching staff … Had three tackles at Maryland … Registered four tackles, including two quarterback sacks in 35 plays against Tennessee Tech and earned a “winning performance” … Collected five tackles in 28 plays at Oklahoma … Did not record a tackle at North Texas but came back with six stops and a tackle for loss against no. 8 Louisville … Registered three tackles and a sack at Louisiana-Monroe to earn a “winning performance” … Had one tackle and a pass breakup in win at Louisiana-Lafayette … Collected three tackles and a sack in win over FAU … Became the all-time sacks leader at Middle Tennessee with two against Arkansas State and finished the game with a personal-best seven tackles … Added three tackles against South Carolina … Had six tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss and a career-best 2.5 sacks against Troy … Led the Blue Raiders against Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl with six tackles and two quarterback sacks.
2005: Played in all 11 games, including eight as a starter (five at defensive end and three at linebacker) … Enjoyed a career-best 33 tackles on the season to go with three sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble … Collected four tackles in the opener at Alabama, including a quarterback sack, and registered two stops against North Texas … Had a season-high five stops at home against Akron including four solos … Registered a tackle for loss in win at Vanderbilt … Did not record a tackle at FAU … Had six total tackles and a quarterback sack against ULL … Came up with four tackles, a quarterback sack, and a pass breakup in win over Arkansas State … Earned his first career start at linebacker in place of the injured Dennis Burke and responded with six stops … Had two tackles including one for loss in win at Troy.
2004: Played in 10 games with four starts, registering a team-high six sacks and tying for the lead with 8.5 tackles for loss … Tallied 25 total stops with one forced fumble … Made three solo tackles in opener at Akron … Both stops versus Florida Atlantic were for loss including one sack … Totaled three tackles, 2.5 for loss, and two sacks against Idaho … The next week had two more sacks and three total stops versus Utah State … Made four tackles at New Mexico State … Tallied a season-high six stops, two for loss, and one sack against Louisiana-Monroe … Also forced a fumble versus ULM … Had a pair of stops in season finale at Troy.
2003: Sat out the year due to NCAA academic guidelines.
High School: Earned first team Associated Press all-state honors after guiding Dublin to a 14-1 record and a spot in the state title game in 2002 (lost to Screven Co. and future Blue Raider teammate Sean Mosley) … Was a Macon Telegraph first team all-Middle Georgia selection while also begin tabbed the Courier-Herald Heart of Georgia Defensive Player of the Year … Ended his senior year with 97 total tackles and a school record 19 quarterback sacks … Also tallied 11 tackles for loss, recovered two fumbles, and had one interception … As a running back, Walden averaged 6.6 yards a carry and scored eight touchdowns while registering 16 receptions for four more scores … He finished with 837 yards of total offense … Lettered in football, basketball, and track … Played football for Coach Roger Holmes.
Personal: Parents: Johnny and Shirley Walden … Born: 8/21/85 … Major: Physical Education.
