Walendzak making impact for Toledo football as true freshman

Dirk Conner, then the head coach of Bowling Green High School, vividly remembers preparing for a game against Perrysburg and someone playing safety and wildcat quarterback caught his attention.
“I was like, ‘Who’s this kid?’ And I went through the roster and saw 32, Connor Walendzak, a freshman,” said Conner, now in his third season at Perrysburg. “I was like, ‘I don’t think this is right. I think somebody’s jersey may have ripped or something and they put someone in 32.’ He just didn’t look like a freshman or play like a freshman. He was fast and super physical. And then, obviously, his sophomore year, he really blew up and became an absolute load.”
Northwest Ohioans became familiar with Walendzak’s exploits over the ensuing three years, culminating with the dynamic running back/linebacker earning Blade player of the year honors last season and being named a finalist for Ohio’s Mr. Football award.
On Saturday, the University of Toledo true freshman got his first taste of extended playing time in the Rockets’ 71-3 win over Texas Southern. Walendzak, a starter on special teams, had 14 yards on eight carries and a 12-yard reception.
“I had a blast out there,” he said. “That whole game was an awesome environment. Just to be a part of that team win, we truly played really good team football in every aspect. It was cool to have my first carry in the Glass Bowl. The crowd was huge so it was an awesome experience.”
Behind the backup offensive line, Walendzak had runs of seven, five, four, two, two, minus-one, minus-two, and minus-three yards. He played the entire third quarter, leaving after the second play of the fourth when a Texas Southern defensive lineman nearly ripped his helmet off on a dirty facemask penalty. Walendzak’s nose was bloodied, but it didn’t require stitches.
Despite consistent production and highlight-worthy runs, Walendzak remained committed to Purdue baseball and didn’t have contact with any college football coaches. A couple of visits to UT changed the dynamic, as head coach Jason Candle, offensive coordinator Robert Weiner, running backs coach Nate Cole, and recruiting coordinator Ricky Ciccone exhibited to Walendzak that they were all-in on him. (Ciccone is now in the same position at Louisiana-Lafayette.)
The feeling was mutual. The surprise for many was that more Division I offers didn’t flow.
“What sold me on college football was growing and maturing and learning the intricacies of the game and going on visits to Toledo and seeing what goes on in the college football world,” Walendzak said. “To pick Toledo, I was sold on the family atmosphere and how everyone cares about the program. I thought I could grow as a man here.”
It wasn’t a coincidence that Walendzak was paired with Dallas Gant and Maxen Hook, two veteran captains, during a series of spring practice drills. The coaches wanted the early enrollee to get an up-close look at how things are done the right way and to be immersed with two of the team’s best players.
The transition from high school senior to Division I college football player wasn’t easy. For Walendzak, the process started in the span of a few days after enrolling in January. Instead of a care-free last couple of months at Perrysburg, he was lifting weights with grown men.
Getting acclimated with the strength program and going through spring practice, however, benefited Walendzak once fall camp arrived. He understood the program’s culture, knew the terminology, and was used to the change in game speed.
“He has been very mature and disciplined since he arrived,” Candle said. “It has been very impressive to watch his growth in a short amount of time. He has built strong relationships on the team so far and we expect him to have a great career here. He is another example of a local guy who has taken full advantage of having his support system close to aid the transition.”
Walendzak admitted that his 2023 goals were cliche: get better every single day. Growing comfortable with his teammates and being able to do whatever coaches asked were other objectives. Once he knew special teams were part of the plan, Walendzak spent the entire summer refining his special-teams skills.
There was a full embrace of the task and complete buy-in for making an impact, the same image Conner saw from Walendzak as a high school freshman.
“He’s good at everything in the game of football,” Conner said. “He doesn’t just have one skill. He’s not just a running back and you have to hand him the ball. It doesn’t surprise me at all that he’s on special teams because of how he’s built, the speed that he has, his ability to tackle, his ability to block. It just makes sense.”