Walk-on (sports)

College team member without a scholarship In American and Canadian college athletics, a walk-on is someone who becomes part of a college team without being recruited or awarded an athletic scholarship. Walk-on players are generally viewed as less significant compared to the scholarship players, and may not even be placed on an official depth chart or traveling team. However, a walk-on player occasionally becomes a noted member of the team. General parameters Because of scholarship limits instituted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), many football teams do not offer scholarships to their punters, long snappers and placekickers until they have become established producers. Sometimes injury or outside issues can make unavailable several players of one position, resulting in the elevation of a walk-on to a featured player. In other situations, a walk-on may so impress the coaching staff with their play on the scout team and in practice that they are rewarded with a scholarship and made a part of the regular depth chart. Often, it is the players who achieve success in this manner that are the inspiration for future walk-ons. One significant college football national