University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offensive line coach Andrew McGlenn gave Dain Walter a blunt message heading into his freshman year.
McGlenn told the 6-foot-7, roughly 240 pound offensive tackle he was never going to see the field if he didn’t gain weight.
Walter has put on 70 pounds — largely consisting of muscle — since McGlenn’s ultimatum before the 2022 season and is now headed into his third year as the team's starting left tackle. His transformation not only turned him into a stalwart of the Eagles offensive line, but also caused NFL scouts to roll through Roger Harring Stadium throughout the summer.
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Dain Walter runs onto the field. Jim Garvey
“At this level, you have to find guys that have length that you feel you can project,” said McGlenn, who’s heading into his 13th season on the staff. “When you looked at his feet and his hands and his knees and his hips, (you see) there’s a possibility for weight on this. He was built like a big man, he just had not put on the weight yet.”
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‘It really opened my eyes’
Walter came to La Crosse with a vision of how offensive lineman looked. He was used to the stereotypical picture of beefy, overweight men. As a result, he was initially hesitant to put on the weight McGlenn required.
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“I always grew up to linemen being pretty big and fat,” Walter said. “I was like, ‘well I don’t want to be a big pot belly.’”
The New Glarus native, who was a standout for the high school’s football and basketball teams, also didn’t want to spend four years on the bench. That push, along with McGlenn assuring him he’d develop into a quality football player, convinced Walter to take his coach's advice.
“It really opened my eyes,” he said. “(McGlenn) said, ‘You could be good if you put on some weight.’ So then I started putting on weight. That good weight.”
There was no immediate pressure for Walter to play, which allowed him to focus on improving his technique as a blocker and pack on the pounds without becoming the “big pot belly” he was fearful of developing into.
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“If you ask a guy to put on 50 pounds right now it’s going to be bad," McGlenn said. "You have to give guys a lot of time to put that weight on.”
Sophomore breakout
Walter made a big leap in practice ahead of the playoffs at the end of his freshman year. His technique had improved and what weight he had put on was making a difference.
“He was starting to use his technique the way he was coached and he was doing at a high level,” Cole Walter, Dain’s older brother and a former UW-L defensive lineman said. “As a defensive player, it was good to go against that because … he would give you a better look than what the (opposing) offensive line would give me on Saturday’s.”
Dain Walter had blossomed up to 295 pounds by the beginning of his sophomore season. And he’d developed so much as a player that McGlenn shifted a two-year starter at left tackle to center to put the sophomore in that spot.
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In October of that season, the Eagles faced UW-Platteville, putting Dain Walter against star defensive lineman Justin Blazek, the eventual conference defensive player of the year who almost made the roster for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024.
The 6-foot-5, 245 pound defensive end was the toughest player Walter had to block at that point.
“I had to get used to going up against someone of that caliber,” Walter said. “So I was pretty shook.”
The first-year starter stopped by McGlenn’s office multiple times in the leadup to that game. And while Blazek still had a sack and three tackles for loss, Dain Walter regularly stifled a top-tier Division 3 pass rushers as the Eagles escaped with a 21-17 win.
“I think that was a really important day for his growth,” McGlenn said, “and by the time we got to the playoff stretch … he was playing at an extremely high level.”
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Dain Walter tipped the scale at 305 pounds the next season. Despite gaining 65 pounds over two years he hadn’t lost any of the speed or explosiveness he had when he was lighter.
He continued to dominate on the field, earning All-WIAC second team honors at the end of the season. And after his all-conference campaign, NFL teams started poking around and showing interest in the New Glarus native.
Scouts from the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears have all made stops in La Crosse to get a close look at the offensive tackle. McGlenn said he expects to see more teams throughout the season.
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He believes that if Walter makes it to the NFL, he can add another 20 pounds without sacrificing his athleticism. That, combined with his 10 ⅝ inch hands, which would have been the fifth largest among offensive lineman at this year's NFL combine, make him an intriguing project for teams.
However, breaking into the NFL will be its own challenge.
Only three Division 3 players have been selected in the NFL Draft over the last decade, according to D3Football.com.
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While Dain Walter admitted the NFL attention does add some pressure, he’s solely focused on having a successful senior season. If he performs well, his professional aspirations will take care of themselves.
“It’s simply him doing the work,” McGlenn said. “He’s very naturally gifted in a lot of things that will allow him to have those opportunities.”
His best year yet?
While Dain Walter has improved every season, coaches said, the leap from last season to this one is his biggest jump yet.
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“The way he's displacing people right now is ridiculous,” head coach Matt Janus said. “Just his length and power is knocking us off double teams. At a certain point you have to start scheming against it.”
Dain Walter is the most experienced player on the team's offensive line entering the 2025 season and became a leader this year after deferring to older players in the past.
“It's his room,” Janus said. “The seniors before him did a great job, but now it’s really his room. So he’s putting his own stamp, his own personality into that.”
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Teammates, coaches — current and former — and his brother describe Dain Walter similarly. He’s kindhearted, always willing to lend a helping hand and funny — the type of person who can relax the most tense situation with a joke.
“He's got humor,” sophomore guard Zack Mlsna said. “But in times where it needs to be serious, if anything he's over serious, because he takes this sport so serious.”
Dain Walter is regularly laughing with teammates and slamming helmets with fellow lineman to get them excited at practices. But once the whistle blows, he utilizes his entire 6-foot-7, 310 pound frame and massive hands to dominate opposing defensive lineman.
“He wants to let his opponent know ‘I’m going to block you and there’s nothing you can do to stop it,’” Cole Walter said, “even if you do everything you’re supposed to do correctly.”
Photos: Wisconsin football hosts Middle Tennessee State at Camp Randall
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Wisconsin players take the field for warmups before playing Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Jake Renfro (57) walks on the sideline with a knee brace during warmups before playing Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers running back Dilin Jones (7) runs up the middle against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Christian Alliegro (0) makes a tackle on Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders wide receiver Myles Butler (5) on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Danny O'Neil (18) makes a throw against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders quarterback Nicholas Vattiato (11) is chased down by Wisconsin defenders on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony II (8) is tackled by Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders defenders on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Carter Smith (3) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin defenders tackle on Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders running back Jekail Middlebrook (9) on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Omillio Agard (6) comes down with an interception on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Danny O'Neil (18) makes a pass against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin defenders attempt to block a Middle Tennessee State extra point attempt on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell leads Wisconsin out of the tunnel before playing Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers tight end Lance Mason (86) dives towards the pylon and goes out of bounds on the one yard line against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers running back Dilin Jones (7) falls in to the end zone for a touchdown against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers running back Dilin Jones (7) celebrates after a rushing touchdown against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin fans express their displeasure after the Badgers were stopped three times at the goal line against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) watches the scoreboard from the sideline against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers safety Austin Brown (9) celebrates after a sack against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin defenders swallow up Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders running back Jekail Middlebrook (9) on a fourth down stop on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Brandon Lane (95) celebrates after a sack against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers tight end Lance Mason (86) fights for yards against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Jayden Ballard (4) celebrates after a first down against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers tight end Jackson McGohan (87) spins off Middle Tennessee State safety Juwon Gaston (22) on an attempted tackle on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin students yell during “Jump Around” before the fourth quarter against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Danny O'Neil (18) yells with Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Trech Kekahuna (2) after a touchdown against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony II (8) breaks away from Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders linebacker Chayce Smith (47) on a touchdown run on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony II (8) strides in to the end zone for a touchdown against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Jayden Ballard (4) runs in to the end zone for a touchdown against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Jayden Ballard (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin celebrates after a touchdown by Wisconsin Badgers tight end Lance Mason (86) against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes yells at his players before playing Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) watches the scoreboard from the sideline against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin defenders swallow up Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders running back Jekail Middlebrook (9) on a fourth down stop on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers safety Austin Brown (9) celebrates after a sack against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Brandon Lane (95) celebrates after a sack against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes yells at his players before playing Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin students yell during “Jump Around” before the fourth quarter against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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