Wesley Walls

Last updated

Wesley Walls
No. 89, 85
Position: Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1966-03-26) March 26, 1966 (age 58)
Batesville, Mississippi, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school: Pontotoc (Pontotoc, Mississippi)
College: Ole Miss (1985–1988)
NFL draft: 1989  / Round: 2 / Pick: 56
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games:196
Games started:116
Receptions:450
Receiving yards:5,291
Receiving touchdowns:54
Player stats at PFR

Charles Wesley Walls (born March 26, 1966) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons.

Contents

Early career

Walls played high school football in Pontotoc, Mississippi. He spent his first three years as a quarterback at South Pontotoc High School. Before his senior year, he transferred to Pontotoc High School, a rival high school. Walls' transfer caused such an uproar in the area, the case went to court, and Walls' eligibility for baseball and basketball was denied. He switched to fullback his senior year, and made the all-state team.

College career

Walls' ability at Pontotoc High earned him a scholarship to the University of Mississippi. He actually played defensive end for three years, but became a linebacker in his senior year. In addition, he played tight end. In a rare move under today's football system, Walls actually started both positions in a game against Memphis State University. After realizing that playing both offense and defense would be too much, he became the team's permanent tight end. He was still utilized on third-down situations as a pass rusher, however. He earned All-America honors as a senior. Walls was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014. [1]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split
6 ft 4+1⁄2 in
(1.94 m)		240 lb
(109 kg)		4.77 s1.64 s2.77 s
All values from NFL Combine [2]

Walls was drafted in the second round (56th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1989 NFL draft. [3] Despite early success in his career, including catching a nine-yard pass in the 49ers 55–10 rout of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV, he was second on the depth chart behind All-Pro Brent Jones. He spent the entire 1992 NFL season and all but 6 games of the 1993 NFL season on injured reserve because of nagging shoulder injuries. In 1994, he signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints. Walls spent two seasons with the Saints, setting the team record for tight end receptions in 1995 with 57. He then signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers to become their starting tight end. It was in Carolina that Walls finally broke out as a player. He made the Pro Bowl five times between 1996 and 2001, only missing it during the 2000 season due to injuries that kept him out for 8 games. While at Carolina, he was also the back-up punter to Ken Walter. After Carolina declined to re-sign him in 2003, he signed with the Green Bay Packers, mostly backing up Bubba Franks, and retired the following year. Walls finished his career with 450 catches for 5,291 yards and 54 touchdowns.

On July 9, 2019, the Panthers announced that Walls would be inducted into the team's Hall of Honor along with Jake Delhomme, Jordan Gross, and Steve Smith Sr.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGPReceivingFumbles
RecYdsAvgLngTDFDFumLost
1989 SF 164164.091000
1990 SF 165275.4110000
1991 SF 1522412.0210100
1992 SF 0Did not play due to injury
1993 SF 600000000
1994 NO 153840610.73142300
1995 NO 165769412.22944011
1996 CAR 166171311.740104400
1997 CAR 155874612.95264100
1998 CAR 144950610.33053200
1999 CAR 166382213.037124711
2000 CAR 83142213.65422000
2001 CAR 144345210.52552000
2002 CAR 151924112.72741200
2003 GB 142022211.1361900
Career [4] 1904505,29111.8545428922

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Carr (American football)</span> American football player (born 1979)

David Duke Carr is an American former football quarterback who played 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs and was selected first overall by the Houston Texans in the 2002 NFL draft. Carr also played for the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. With the Giants, Carr was a member of the team that won Super Bowl XLVI. He currently serves as the offensive coordinator at Bakersfield Christian High School.

John E. Frank is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1984 to 1988. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Frank was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 1984 NFL draft, and won two Super Bowls with the team. After his football career, he became a hair restoration surgeon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kris Mangum</span> American football player and coach (born 1973)

Kris Thomas Mangum is a former American football player who played tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL) throughout his entire NFL career. He attended the University of Mississippi. His father, John Mangum, Sr. and his brother, John Mangum, Jr. are both former NFL players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Gross</span> American football player (born 1980)

Jordan Alan Gross is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes, earning consensus All-American honors. He spent his entire career with the Panthers, who selected him eighth overall in the 2003 NFL draft, and became their sideline reporter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Lee (American football)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Andrew Paul Lee is an American football punter who is a free agent. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Bono</span> American football player (born 1962)

Steven Christopher Bono is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL draft. He played for seven different teams in 15 different seasons, spending the most time with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernon Davis</span> American football player (born 1984)

Vernon Leonard Davis is an American former football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins, earning first-team All-American honors in 2005. Davis was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the sixth overall pick of the 2006 NFL draft. In 2009, he co-led the NFL in touchdown receptions and consequently earned his first of two career Pro Bowl selections.

Peter Henry Metzelaars is an American former football tight end who played for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, the Carolina Panthers and the Detroit Lions. He played college football for the Wabash Little Giants and was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 1982 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Willis</span> American football player (born 1985)

Patrick L. Willis is an American former football linebacker who spent his entire eight-year career with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels, earning consensus All-American honors in 2006 and was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Oher</span> American football player (born 1986)

Michael Jerome Oher is an American former football tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He played college football at the University of Mississippi, where he earned unanimous All-American honors as a senior, and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. He spent his first five seasons with the Ravens and was a member of the team that won Super Bowl XLVII. He later played one season for the Tennessee Titans and his final two for the Carolina Panthers.

Jonathan Scott Goodwin is an American former professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL draft. Goodwin also played for the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Olsen (American football)</span> American football player and sportscaster (born 1985)

Gregory Walter Olsen is an American football sportscaster and former tight end who played for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. Olsen also played for the Carolina Panthers, with whom he made three Pro Bowls, and became the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Olsen played his final season with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020. Following his retirement Olsen joined Fox as a sportscaster and is formerly the lead color commentator for the NFL on Fox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bear Pascoe</span> American football player (born 1986)

McKenna Sean "Bear" Pascoe is a former American football tight end. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at Fresno State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Matthews</span> American football player (born 1992)

Jordan Armand Matthews is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Vanderbilt and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. Matthews started his NFL career as a wide receiver before switching positions after the 2020 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vance McDonald</span> American football player (born 1990)

Vance Coman McDonald is a former American football tight end who played for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, and spent four seasons with the team. McDonald also played four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at Rice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blake Bell</span> American football player (born 1991)

Blake Bell is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football at Oklahoma, where he received the nickname "Belldozer", a play on words due to his large frame and running style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Kittle</span> American football player (born 1993)

George Krieger Kittle is an American professional football tight end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro in 2019 and 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmanuel Moseley</span> American football player (born 1996)

Emmanuel LaMurel Moseley is an American football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Pitts</span> American football player (born 2000)

Kyle Anthony Pitts is an American professional football tight end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, where he was named a unanimous All-American and won the John Mackey Award in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Jon Finley</span> American football player and coach (born 1985)

Joe Jon "J. J." Finley is an American football coach and former tight end who is currently the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at the University of Oklahoma. He previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Mississippi, Texas A&M University, University of Missouri and Baylor University.

References

  1. ↑ National Football Foundation (May 22, 2014). "NFF Proudly Announces Impressive 2014 College Football Hall of Fame Class". FootballFoundation.org. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Wesley Walls, Combine Results, TE - Mississippi". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  3. ↑ "1989 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Wesley Walls Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.