Player Profile

PRO: Although injuries and uncertainty plagued the Dallas offensive line throughout the entire season, there were a few bright spots in the form of young players who responded well to being forced into starting duty. One of those youngsters who answered the call with solid productivity was center Tyson Walter, who holds the distinction of starting more games as a Buckeye (49) than any other player in school history. He is a strong drive blocker with solid quickness and intelligence, and his experience of performing at a high collegiate level was key to his transition to professional football and a mid-season starting assignment as a Dallas rookie. Walter also came to the NFL with a high level of competitive maturity after spending six years in one of the nation's premier collegiate programs. Injuries forced a pair of medical redshirt seasons for the big lineman. When he was not sidelined with injuries, Walter was a very consistent performer for four seasons at left tackle, where he capably inherited the responsibility of replacing All-America Orlando Pace, who was taken by the Rams with the first overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. As an NFL rookie, Walter displayed solid athletic ability for a man of his size while also possessing toughness and a rare level of intelligence as evidenced by his ability to make the calls on the offensive line as a starting center in the NFL. Walter was the first of three Dallas sixth round draft choices in 2002 (179th overall).

2002: Walter was sidelined for almost all of training camp with a high left ankle sprain that he suffered on Aug. 4. Yet, he showed enough promise and tenacity in limited two-a-day drills to earn a roster spot. The injury, however, forced him to be inactive for the first four games of the season. Walter returned to limited practice work on Sept. 25 and was active, but did not play, in the loss to the N.Y. Giants (10/6). He saw his first NFL action in the following week's win over Carolina (10/13) when he took over at center for Matt Lehr mid-way through the second quarter. Walter helped Dallas rush for 138 yards and a 5.8 yards-per-carry average against the Panthers while playing a key role in the two decisive fourth quarter touchdowns that sparked the thrilling come-from-behind win. In the loss to Seattle (10/27), Walter saw limited first quarter action at center for Andre Gurode (ankle injury) and then at right guard on the final drive when Solomon Page moved to right tackle for Javiar Collins (knee injury). Walter earned his first NFL starting assignment at center at Detroit (11/3) as Gurode moved to right guard. In answering the starting call, Walter became the second rookie to start at center - along with Gurode - for Dallas in 2002. In the loss at Indianapolis (11/17), Walter earned his second straight start at center, and he held the job for the remainder of the season. In Dallas's win over Jacksonville (11/24), Walter was a part of a line that helped provide time for Hutchinson to throw for 301 yards and opened holes for 118 rushing yards en route to the club's top offensive outing (405 net yards) of the year. In the Thanksgiving Day win over Washington (11/28), he contributed to a line effort that led the way for the Cowboys to rush for a season-high 211 yards, including a season-high 144 yards by Emmitt Smith. In that game, Smith also went over the 17,000 yard mark for career rushing yards and recorded his fourth consecutive 100-yard day against the Redskins. In the following week's loss to San Francisco (12/8), Walter helped hold the 49ers without a sack in 28 pass plays, marking the first game in 2002 that the line did not allowed a sack. Dallas also rushed for 110 yards against the 49ers.

COLLEGE: As a senior in 2001, Walter was an All-Big Ten Conference selection and the winner of the Jim Parker Award for outstanding offensive line performance among Buckeyes. He was also recognized as a first-team Academic All-Big Ten selection. He started every game as a senior. His blocking helped the Buckeyes roll up 370.6 yards-per-game and he was named the Buckeyes' Lineman of the Game four times. Walter's productive senior year marked his return to the field after missing the entire 2000 season with a back infection that caused him to receive a second medical redshirt season. Despite missing most of the summer after undergoing back surgery, Walter started every game at left tackle in 1999, and the team averaged 362.3 yards-per-game. Walter helped clear a path for current Cowboys teammate Michael Wiley, who rushed for 999 yards and 10 touchdowns on 183 carries. In 1998, Walter was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection after starting every game at left tackle. He played a key role in the Buckeyes finishing the year ranked fifth nationally in total offense (503.5 yards-per-game) and first in the Big Ten in passing efficiency (151.2), total offense (503.5) and scoring (36.9 points-per-game). He was part of an offensive line that helped Buckeye running backs rush for 2,737 yards and 22 touchdowns to finish second in the Big Ten. That squad went on to beat Texas A&M in the Nokia Sugar Bowl to finish with an 11-1 record and a No. 2 national ranking. As a redshirt freshman in 1997, he was called upon to fill the huge shoes of two-time All-America left tackle Orlando Pace. Walter started every game for Ohio State. In 1996, Walter played in the first two games as a reserve offensive tackle before a shoulder sprain sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He was granted a medical redshirt as a result of the injury.

PERSONAL: Walter helped Kenston, Ohio, High School to a runner-up position in the state playoffs as a senior offensive and defensive tackle, earning All-Ohio honors. He graduated from Ohio State at the end of the 2000 winter quarter with a degree in finance. He went on to pursue additional degrees in Economics, Risk Management and Information Systems. As a senior scholar-athlete, Walter was a nominee for a National Football Foundation scholarship. As a member of the Cowboys 2002 Rookie Club - a program designed to introduce rookie team member to community service in the Dallas area - Walter participated in monthly charity visits to non-profit organizations serving children. In the spring of 2003, he served as a guest speaker at the SMU "Visioneering" event for over 500 Dallas middle school students.