Ward Walsh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
| No. 32, 26 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Running back | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | November 21, 1948 Los Angeles County, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 213 lb (97 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Trinity (Weaverville, California) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Colorado (1967–1970) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1971: undrafted | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Ward Walsh (born November 21, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Houston Oilers and Green Bay Packers. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. Walsh made the Oilers as an undrafted free agent in 1971 and was released by the team in 1972. He then joined the Packers and played with them until being released in 1973.
Walsh was born on November 21, 1948, in Los Angeles County, California.[1] He attended Trinity High School in Weaverville, California; as a junior in 1965, he was named All-Superior California and All-Shasta Cascade League (SCL) after leading Trinity to the league title with 14 touchdowns at fullback, additionally being selected the league's player of the year.[2][3] He helped Trinity to another conference title as he ran for 1,404 yards and averaged 8.0 yards-per-carry as a senior, being named All-Superior California, the SCL player of the year and first-team All-Northern California while placing second in the conference with 150 points scored.[4][5][6][7] He was also invited to the Shrine Football Classic, a goal he had set in fourth grade, and scored the game-winning touchdown in an upset by the North team over the South.[8]
College career
Walsh began attending the University of Colorado Boulder in 1967 and made his debut for the Buffaloes the following year, recording 63 rushing yards in his first game.[9][10] He finished his sophomore season—1968—with 103 carries for 384 yards (a 3.7 average) and five touchdowns along with 13 receptions for 136 yards and another touchdown. He was ninth in the Big Eight Conference in total touchdowns while helping the Buffaloes finish with a record of 4–6.[11][12] In 1969, he helped Colorado reach the Liberty Bowl with an 8–3 record, running 114 times for 502 yards (a 4.7 average) and catching seven passes for 67 yards but scoring no touchdowns.[11][13] He improved in 1970 and was their leading rusher, carrying the ball 117 times for 679 yards (a 5.8 average) and three touchdowns while catching five passes for 25 yards and another touchdown, helping them return to the Liberty Bowl.[11][14] He placed second in the conference in rushing average and sixth for rushing yards, ending his collegiate career with 1,565 rushing yards and 225 receiving yards along with 10 touchdowns.[11]
