Walt Kowalczyk
| No. 43, 35 | |||||
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| Position: | Fullback / Defensive back | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Date of birth: | April 17, 1935 | ||||
| Place of birth: | Westfield, Massachusetts | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 208 lb (94 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Westfield (MA) | ||||
| College: | Michigan State | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 1958 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
| Games played: | 40 |
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| Player stats at NFL.com | |
Walter Joseph Kowalczyk (born April 17, 1935) is a former American football defensive back and fullback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. He also played in the American Football League for the Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Michigan State University.
Kowalczyk attended Westfield High School, where he earned four letters in football and baseball, three in basketball and two in track. In football and baseball he was named to the All-state team twice. He won the state 100-yard dash title twice. As a senior, he received the Harry Agganis Award as the best high school athlete in New England.
He accepted a scholarship from Michigan State University, where he became a three-year starter at right halfback. As a sophomore, he was given the nickname "The Sprinting Blacksmith", after his efforts helped his team defeat UCLA in the 1956 Rose Bowl. He recorded 584 yards and 6 touchdowns in the season.
As a junior, he was limited with a serious ankle sprain he suffered during fall practice and only registered 128 yards and 2 touchdowns.
In 1957, he posted 545 rushing yards (5.4 yards average), 9 touchdowns and 7 receptions for 128 yards. He placed third in the Heisman Trophy voting. He finished his career with 1,257 rushing yards on 225 carries, 16 touchdowns, 10 receptions for 187 yards and one touchdown.
Kowalczyk was selected in the first round (6th overall) of the 1958 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a backup running back behind Clarence Peaks and Billy Ray Barnes. He also was a backup defensive back behind Tom Brookshier and Eddie Bell.
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