Walk-Ons

[The-Hack]

Our 2023 and 2024 Recruiting threads have a WHOLE LOT of players walking on.

I have no easy source of comparing total numbers through the years, but it looks like we are getting more walk-ons than in the recent past.

Maybe we are increasing numbers to help gird ourselves with greater depth as we face the nine-game SEC gauntlet a season earlier than we thought just a few months, ago.

And if you cast a wider net, you catch more fish.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

I thing a college team can have up to 130 on the roster, which would include 45 Walkons. Everyone knows the Bennett story at UGA, but he wasn't the only walk-on starting at UGA. Dan Jackson is also a former walk-on that started at star in 21 and 22 until an injury ended his season. He is likely a starter this fall. Sometimes a kid just needs a chance. UGA takes quite a few walkons.

 

[mrschwump]

Our 2023 and 2024 Recruiting threads have a WHOLE LOT of players walking on.

I have no easy source of comparing total numbers through the years, but it looks like we are getting more walk-ons than in the recent past.

Maybe we are increasing numbers to help gird ourselves with greater depth as we face the nine-game SEC gauntlet a season earlier than we thought just a few months, ago.

And if you cast a wider net, you catch more fish.

I started a thread on this last week. I like it, couple of guys look like they can help in time(I'm especially high on huge NT Sebastian Scott, check out his film). My question was why the increase in walk-on numbers now? Maybe UK's just catching up with other programs.

 

[docholiday51]

I started a thread on this last week. I like it, couple of guys look like they can help in time(I'm especially high on huge NT Sebastian Scott, check out his film). My question was why the increase in walk-on numbers now? Maybe UK's just catching up with other programs

We have gotten to the point that more kids want to be part of what is going on here

 

[gamalielkid]

I thing a college team can have up to 130 on the roster, which would include 45 Walkons. Everyone knows the Bennett story at UGA, but he wasn't the only walk-on starting at UGA. Dan Jackson is also a former walk-on that started at star in 21 and 22 until an injury ended his season. He is likely a starter this fall. Sometimes a kid just needs a chance. UGA takes quite a few walkons.

Alabama always has that 130 number it seems. Success means more guys who are borderline division 1 want to give UK a chance - especially Kentucky guys. If UK gets one or two guys to make the squad it is a big deal. But I believe what is even more important the positive energy to brings to the program for all the players. The football culture at UK is now real! Everyone is enjoying the success, the energy, the pride, the enthusiasm of football at UK. The desire of having a winning football team has been around my whole life - I know it has since I enrolled at UK back in 68. So glad we realized we had to take some hits to get it right with Coach Stoops. Coach Stoops may not be the best coach in college football - but he certainly was and has been the right coach for UK. He has made UK a place most coaches wouldn't mind being head coach now!

Go Big Blue!

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Yeah, you just have to think with the large number of W/O's we are accumulating there is bound to be at least a few that will make contributions over time. And a couple may turn out to be big time contributors. Some of these guys will have a great work ethic, and if they are like that and stick with it long enough good things usually happen for people like that.

 

[cat888]

Would a JV team be something they may look at for these players to gain experience? Mumme also used JV games to get prospects on the campus of course he broke some laws the way he did it.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Yeah, you just have to think with the large number of W/O's we are accumulating there is bound to be at least a few that will make contributions over time. And a couple may turn out to be big time contributors. Some of these guys will have a great work ethic, and if they are like that and stick with it long enough good things usually happen for people like that.

Not every time but lots of times, kickers, snappers and h I lders are walk on. Last 2 kickers for us started as Waltons. With Hope scholarship in GA. Kids books and tuition is free for every kid that qualifies, that helps with instate kids who are borderline. I think preferred Walk-ons get to eat with teams. We been lucky enough to be able to reward them with a snap here and there.

 

[Cat06]

A significant number of walkon's nationwide this year would have had scholarship offers in past years. The dead weight sixth year COVID players are keeping those scholarships that would have gone to class of 23 players.

This has been looming since 2020 and has been followed extensively by members of the specialists community. It has hit Long Snappers, Punters and Kickers especially hard. The situation will not change until 2025.

 

[mrschwump]

A significant number of walkon's nationwide this year would have had scholarship offers in past years. The dead weight sixth year COVID players are keeping those scholarships that would have gone to class of 23 players.

This has been looming since 2020 and has been followed extensively by members of the specialists community. It has hit Long Snappers, Punters and Kickers especially hard. The situation will not change until 2025.

Good point. Just wish the KY sports media would keep up. Seems to me the question as to why UK football would go from like 5 PWOs a year to upwards to 20 now would be an interesting story.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Good point. Just wish the KY sports media would keep up. Seems to me the question as to why UK football would go from like 5 PWOs a year to upwards to 20 now would be an interesting story.

I think the answer to that question is pretty simple, UK is a much more attractive program today than in the past and kids want to be a part of it.

 

[trueblujr2]

Not every time but lots of times, kickers, snappers and h I lders are walk on. Last 2 kickers for us started as Waltons. With Hope scholarship in GA. Kids books and tuition is free for every kid that qualifies, that helps with instate kids who are borderline. I think preferred Walk-ons get to eat with teams. We been lucky enough to be able to reward them with a snap here and there.

My nephew just signed with Miami, OH as a PWO and the school stepped up with an academic Scholarship that covers literally 90% of his out of state tuition and housing.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

My nephew just signed with Miami, OH as a PWO and the school stepped up with an academic Scholarship that covers literally 90% of his out of state tuition and housing.

That's pretty cool, congrats to him. On a side note one of my ex's granddaughter was an awesome softball player and above average basketball player. When she entered HS, one of the local private high school gave her a full scholarship and books. Tuition for HS was 17k a year, 5 years ago. A frosh now playing softball in the SEC. I don't know if that covers the cost 2 nights a week private hitting lessons and 1 night a week for speed training for 10 years.

 

[southindycat]

My nephew just signed with Miami, OH as a PWO and the school stepped up with an academic Scholarship that covers literally 90% of his out of state tuition and housing.

Sounds like every competitive D-3 school coming and going for decades, thanks to a much less intense enforcement environment, or perhaps legitimately different pool of recruits. I've never been able to decide where the line is drawn. I can promise you Sewanee, for instance, can't fill a roster with the sons of millionaire Episcopalians, nor wants to. You think kids are lining up to spend $75k annually to play football for the fun of it? Schools like that have special scholly funds for every imaginable place of origin and blood type. "Well, son, I see you are from east central Kentucky. Buffy here is going to take you to the financial aid office. I think they might have some great scholarships available for any young person from the Licking Valley."

 

[fabcat]

Another thing Walk ons and PWO’s can do is be used on scout teams. That’s a valuable asset to our football team. Also gives these kids a chance to shine and possibly get in the 2-3 deep on the depth chart.

 

[NAFP]

Sounds like every competitive D-3 school coming and going for decades, thanks to a much less intense enforcement environment, or perhaps legitimately different pool of recruits. I've never been able to decide where the line is drawn. I can promise you Sewanee, for instance, can't fill a roster with the sons of millionaire Episcopalians, nor wants to. You think kids are lining up to spend $75k annually to play football for the fun of it? Schools like that have special scholly funds for every imaginable place of origin and blood type. "Well, son, I see you are from east central Kentucky. Buffy here is going to take you to the financial aid office. I think they might have some great scholarships available for any young person from the Licking Valley."

I'm a Sewanee alum; athlete in a sport other than football. The scholarship thing was said by people at every D3 school about every other D3 school. -- "yeah, I hear Faber has 'leadership scholarships' for football players".

As far as I know, Sewanee wasn't doing that when I was there. If they are doing it now for football, then they're doing a damn poor job of it.

On this general topic, if anyone on this board hasn't seen the documentary on Sewanee's 1899 football team, I recommend it. I'd heard the stories, of course, but the documentary was fascinating.

Sewanee1899 – Unrivaled: The Documentary

Unrivaled: The Book A story for the ages. We just can't stop winning awards! Buy The Book Buy Stream Extended Cut 1 hour 50 min (Main On-Demand Film) Broadcast Cut 1 hour 27 min (Bonus On-Demand Film)

sewanee1899.org

 

[mrschwump]

Wonder how many of these PWOs are early enrollees?

 

[southindycat]

I'm a Sewanee alum; athlete in a sport other than football. The scholarship thing was said by people at every D3 school about every other D3 school. -- "yeah, I hear Faber has 'leadership scholarships' for football players".

As far as I know, Sewanee wasn't doing that when I was there. If they are doing it now for football, then they're doing a damn poor job of it.

On this general topic, if anyone on this board hasn't seen the documentary on Sewanee's 1899 football team, I recommend it. I'd heard the stories, of course, but the documentary was fascinating.

Sewanee1899 – Unrivaled: The Documentary

Unrivaled: The Book A story for the ages. We just can't stop winning awards! Buy The Book Buy Stream Extended Cut 1 hour 50 min (Main On-Demand Film) Broadcast Cut 1 hour 27 min (Bonus On-Demand Film)

sewanee1899.org

Hope you weren't offended that I grabbed Sewanee. I can tell you that in the late 80s that was the gist. I was recruited by Sewanee. I have no idea what they are doing now, but if not finding money for football players, well, I suppose I'm not surprised by your indication they aren't competitive these days. If doing so, they are only doing what the majority of D3 schools do all the time. Particularly amusing are the diversity scholarships at lily white schools being awarded to 5-7 175lb RB's with 4.4 speed. All day long...

 

[NAFP]

Hope you weren't offended that I grabbed Sewanee. I can tell you that in the late 80s that was the gist. I was recruited by Sewanee. I have no idea what they are doing now, but if not finding money for football players, well, I suppose I'm not surprised by your indication they aren't competitive these days. If doing so, they are only doing what the majority of D3 schools do all the time. Particularly amusing are the diversity scholarships at lily white schools being awarded to 5-7 175lb RB's with 4.4 speed. All day long...

Not offended at all. I'm a supporter of a diverse student body -- you need a range of 40 times.