Tonight, the first round of the NFL Draft will be held in Arlington, Texas so let’s look back at the history of Texas Tech Red Raiders to be taken in the first round.
The goal of anyone to have ever strapped on a helmet and shoulder pads is to be a first round NFL Draft pick. However, only a infinitesimal percentage of football players earn that distinction.
Though Texas Tech has been playing football since 1925, only seven men to play their college football in Lubbock have heard their name called in round one of the NFL Draft. That list stretches from 1945 to 2017 and includes some of the top names in program history.
1945 – Walt Schlinkman – Fullback
Fans of modern college football would not be able to fathom any scenario in which a fullback would be drafted in the first round. But in 1945, Texas Tech fullback Walt Schlinkman was taken No. 11 overall by the Green Bay Packers.
The Channing, Texas native was born in 1922, the year prior to Texas Tech’s founding, when the forward pass was a controversial idea. It would be fascinating to get his thoughts on Kliff Kingsbury’s “Air Raid” offense, especially knowing that the fullback has become a relic.
But in Schlinkman’s time, the fullback was even more important than the quarterback. He was not merely a blocker like former Dallas Cowboy Darryl “Moose” Johnson but was actually the back furthest from the line of scrimmage. In other words, he played a role more similar to that of the modern-day tailback and was the focal point of the offense.
In Schlinkman’s four seasons in the NFL, he did a little bit of everything. He rushed for 1,455 yards and eight touchdowns on 365 carries. He returned seven kickoffs for 155 yards and caught three passes for a total of -1 yards.
While Schlinkman’s playing career was brief, he stayed involved in the game of football for the majority of his life. He spent 21 years coaching at the collegiate and professional levels.
Walt Schlinkman began coaching at Lake Forrest College before stints at Marquette and Columbia. He then moved on to the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League before coaching for one season with the Washington Huskies. In the NFL, he spent time with the Chicago Cardinals, Houston Oilers and St. Louis Cardinals.