Education
Walen attended Burlingame High School before moving on to University of California, Los Los Angeles He became a starter at defensive tackle as a junior.
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Mark Walen
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Career
He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd round (74th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft. As a fifth year senior he was a key part of the seventh ranked total defense (number 1 in rush defense), that included the play of Ken Norton Junior., Carnell Lake, James Washington, Jim Wahler and Darryl Henley. 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.
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.
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.
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.
