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Right now im going to a school that doesnt have a football team but i might be transfering, possibly as soon as this spring. I have always wanted to play college football but i was not recruited when i was in high school but im not horrible. How hard would it be to walk on to a team? Im not looking for a scholarship i just want to play, i've heard that most D1 schools have about 100 people trying to walkon for only 20 spots.

By Vancat (Vancat) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 10:04 pm: Edit

depends how big the school is. Some smaller schools may have more chances, but you still have to be pretty darn good.

If you're trying to walk on to a D1 team at someplace like Michigan, well then GOOD LUCK.

By Greg530 (Greg530) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 10:13 pm: Edit

If you weren't recruited by ANY college when you were in high school, your chances of walking on to a D1 team are zero.

By Hokie_2004 (Hokie_2004) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 10:53 pm: Edit

Arent most of the walkons people whow werent recruited?

By 1212 (1212) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 11:58 pm: Edit

if you are talking about Va tech (hokies), well, they are having or gonna have a horrible season, so pass those blunts around to the players in the team, and you'll be sure to make the team

By Greg530 (Greg530) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 12:15 am: Edit

The great majority of walk-ons on D1 teams were recruited by some college or university, whether it be Division 2 or 3 or Junior colleges. I didn't mean to get you down, Hokie, get out there and bust your ass

By Barrons (Barrons) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 02:30 pm: Edit

Due to Title IX, most teams limit walkons these days and most are recruited as walkons and had offers from lower tier programs.

By Hokie_2004 (Hokie_2004) on Monday, September 27, 2004 - 03:42 pm: Edit

But do i even have a chance to show the coaches what i have? Do they have practices or camps for prospective walk ons? Like at spring practices do they alow walk ons to show up and at least try to get on the practice squad? Or is it hopeless if i wanst recruited by that school? I think im going to call or e-mail the schools that im applying to and ask them.

By Mikemac (Mikemac) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 01:33 am: Edit

Hokie, you have a big problem and one that has nothing to do with whether you can make the team. At big schools, Title IX forces the schools to count male athletes, regardless of whether they are walk-on or scholarship, in the quest for "equality". So many colleges are refusing male walk-ons or severely restricting them. See the NY Times article at http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/754995/posts or read http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_11_32/ai_72344894

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 09:26 am: Edit

if you just want to play for the love of the game, maybe you should look into intramural programs. You would probably get more field time than you would on the main intercollegiate team anyway.

By 3togo (3togo) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:29 am: Edit

A couple points building on toughts in this string. First, you said you want to play ... does that mean be part of daliy practice or play in games? D1 schools can give 85 (I think) football scholarships and maybe 50-60 kids play a game ... even allowing for injuries I would guess the walk-ons almost never play in the games except maybe an occational special teams guy. Second, at some D1 schools, even the walk-ons are recruited ... the walk-ons make practices more cahllenging so they want high level walk-ons for competition inpractice. Third, as someone mentioned earlier you can probably walk on about one level below the level you were recruited in high school. If you were not reriuted by D1,D2, or D3 in high school I would guess your best chance to walk-on a D1 program is at the lesser programs (meaning the last 10-20 of the 120 programs) that may not have full squads and whose talent level is more on par with D1-AA and D2.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 09:17 pm: Edit

It is totally a college by college issue. I know kids who have walked on to UCLA and U of Colorado/Boulder football teams. I know a number of walkons for many swim teams. You need to call or e-mail the coach for the sport and ask how many kids try to walk on each year, and how many are accepted from that number. Also ask if walk ons are encouraged. I was surprised on year when the Penn Coach said "no" for crew walk ons--that you'd better walk on water as well as row it to make the team that year, as they were so loaded with talent.

Also if you are looking at D-1 schools, be aware that all D-1 schools are not equal. Some have sports teams that are not as good as the top D-3 schools are in those sports. It all depends on the strength of the program and the aggressiveness of the coach to recruit. Georgetown has a great basketball program, and walking on that team would be next to impossible unless you are the next Shaq or Jordan. But the swim team....well, that is a different story.

By Hokie_2004 (Hokie_2004) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:35 am: Edit

Im trying to walk on as a QB at USC.....No just kidding but i have contacted the coaches at the schools but i havent gotten a reply yet, maybe because the season is going on and their busy, I think im going to send an email to the recruitment person too.