Colleges sometime give academic scholarships and use athletic scholarships for someone who may not be elegible for the academic. Thus using the preferred walk on label for the academic scholar. Many players turn down this offer because they feel if they are not deserving of an athletic scholarship they will go somewhere else.

From what I have been told, a preferred walk on is a player that that school would give a scholarship to, if they had anymore scholarships to give. The preferred walk on is treated like a scholarship player and a spot is held for them, just like the scholarship players. Preferred walk on status is normally given to players that the school anticipates awarding a scholarship to the following season.

Based on that article (and other things I've read) though, a preferred walk on seems to be guaranteed one of the 105 roster spots (football) and has apparently been personally invited by the coach so that he can show up the same time as the scholarship players. While it certainly doesn't equate to anything near a scholarship offer, it does sound like more than just a typical walk on who shows up unannounced and hopes to land a million-to-one spot on the roster.

 

You are correct, sir. It is not the same as a non-preferred walk-on.

I think the main misconception is that people believe that a preferred walk on has the inside track to a scholly, one or two years down the road. That is simply not true.

A preferred walk-on is a walk-on. There is no such thing. Its just a line the coach feeds the walk on to make them feel good about walking on. Period.

Edited April 2, 200917 yr by threetimelover

Cooper, I know of one preferred walk-on who was told when he arrived at his in-state SEC program that there was not a spot available for him. Being preferred doesn't guarantee anything. A lot of guys go the preferred route at FBS schools even though they may have FCS offers. It makes no sense to me, but to each his own I suppose.

A preferred walk-on is a walk-on. There is no such thing. Its just a line the coach feeds the walk on to make them feel good about walking on. Period.

 

Not based on everything I've been reading. There is a difference between a preferred walk-on and regular walk on. Maybe not a huge one, but there is a difference.

I think the main misconception is that people believe that a preferred walk on has the inside track to a scholly, one or two years down the road. That is simply not true.

 

From what I have been told, a preferred walk on is a player that that school would give a scholarship to, if they had anymore scholarships to give. The preferred walk on is treated like a scholarship player and a spot is held for them, just like the scholarship players. Preferred walk on status is normally given to players that the school anticipates awarding a scholarship to the following season.

 

From everything I've been reading, MCrunch is correct on this one. It is actually a very, very small percentage of preferred walk-ons that actually end up with a scholarship. There is not any promise at all by the school of a potential scholarship, nor even any likelihood.

Perferred walk on is something that colleges coaches came up with to make it sound better than it really is. The bottom line is if you don't get a grant and aid you are a walk on period that is how it is. They say perferred walk on to make mommy and daddy feel better. It sounds hard but it is true, a walk on is a walk on.

 

Not in all cases, we have a kid that is being looked at as a preferred walk-on because his schooling will automatically be 100% paid for so the college he goes to would be stupid to payout scholarship money. They will get an extra athlete by doing this. I am sure there are many players across the nation who have full academic rides that go as a preffered walk-on and what ever college/university they go to uses the scholarship that they would have offered that athlete to another athlete. It is just smart to do this because you get an extra athlete. So in cases where a player would have been a scholarship player but already has a full ride through other avenues, they are considered the exact same as a scholarship player.

A preferred walk-on is a walk-on. There is no such thing. Its just a line the coach feeds the walk on to make them feel good about walking on. Period.

 

Not always the case, again ready my 1st post!

A preferred walk-on is a walk-on. There is no such thing. Its just a line the coach feeds the walk on to make them feel good about walking on. Period.

 

Wrong.

 

Bottom line is this. The NCAA caps scholarships at 85, and caps the number of players who can be brought to camp at 105. Thus the other 20 are your preferred, invited (what ever you want to call them) walk ons. Those guys are not guaranteed anything, but it is accepted that they'll get a spot on the roster or they wouldn't be asked to come early. Most teams end up carrying about 120, meaning regular walk-ons are added as well.

What is not considered is that there are upperclassmen walk-ons as well and they go into that number, along with most kickers, snappers, etc.

So, if you're invited to camp as part of that 105, then you've been asked by the team to play for them. Guys who do this and stick it out have a good chance of being on scholarship the next year.

Another tidbit, its against NCAA rules for colleges to comment on walk ons until they sign and are enrolled at the university.

You need to ask The Green Daddy on this one. He knows the correct answer.

Wrong.

 

Bottom line is this. The NCAA caps scholarships at 85, and caps the number of players who can be brought to camp at 105. Thus the other 20 are your preferred, invited (what ever you want to call them) walk ons. Those guys are not guaranteed anything, but it is accepted that they'll get a spot on the roster or they wouldn't be asked to come early. Most teams end up carrying about 120, meaning regular walk-ons are added as well.

What is not considered is that there are upperclassmen walk-ons as well and they go into that number, along with most kickers, snappers, etc.

So, if you're invited to camp as part of that 105, then you've been asked by the team to play for them. Guys who do this and stick it out have a good chance of being on scholarship the next year.Another tidbit, its against NCAA rules for colleges to comment on walk ons until they sign and are enrolled at the university.

Hooah is dead on with this explanation with one exception. It is along uphill battle to earn a scholarship even as a preferred walk-on. Very few ever earn a scholarship.

Generally, a "preferred walk-on" is already assured of a spot on the team, because the coaching staff has seen enough ability in him to invite him to be part of the program.

 

You are correct.

A "preferred" walk-on most of the time has a roster spot already waiting for him. These are kids who have been recruited by the school and the coaching staff is aware that the young man has the ability to play at that particular institution. Sometimes "numbers" are the only reason these kids don't get scholarships for the first year. In certain circumstances scholarships are on the way sophomore year.

 

GO BIG BLUE