Impactful walk-ons have gotten harder to search out in school soccer’s new period of switch portal-laden and NIL-riddled rosters, however with the 2024 season starting this week, there isn’t any higher time to circle again by way of the historical past books and level out among the most memorable of all-time. In recent times, former walk-ons have received a Heisman, been a key part on a number of nationwide championship groups and some who additional developed their craft as NFL superstars.
However for probably the most half within the present panorama, walk-ons are solely magnified when placed on scholarship with dozens of applications utilizing shock moments post-practice or within the group assembly room as social media-driven movies.
A pair of the previous walk-ons included on this listing are transfers and some started their respective careers at a special place altogether. Stroll-ons are utilized for depth functions, however every so often there’s one who takes benefit of alternative and balls out — like all of those standouts.
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This is a have a look at the ten most memorable walk-ons in school soccer historical past. If in case you have one other participant worthy of point out, tell us:
10. Clay Matthews, LB, USC
Clay Matthews first joined a loaded roster at USC in 2004 as a walk-on earlier than redshirting and enjoying 5 years within the Pac-10. Matthews’ finest marketing campaign was his final with the Trojans, in the end resulting in a first-round choice by the Inexperienced Bay Packers. In 2008, Matthews collected 57 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He was recognized for being a stealer of souls on particular groups as USC’s most-decorated gunner throughout his profession in Los Angeles. Matthews received three Rose Bowls at USC and was a six-time Professional Bowl go rusher within the NFL.
9. Carl Nassib, Edge, Penn State
Carl Nassib loved arguably the most effective particular person season ever for a former walk-on defender in 2015, accumulating a number of awards after registering 19.5 tackles for losses, 15.5 sacks and 6 pressured fumbles as one of many nastiest edge rushers within the nation. Nassib’s breakout efficiency because the Large Ten’s Defensive Participant of the Yr led to a third-round choice within the NFL Draft the next spring. Nassib didn’t play his first two years in Pleased Valley, however caught issues out and commenced making an affect in 2013.
8. J.J. Watt, Edge, Wisconsin
A former tight finish at Central Michigan, J.J. Watt walked on at Wisconsin and starred alongside the defensive entrance earlier than he turned one of many NFL’s premiere go rushers over a prolonged (and dominant) profession. A Class of 2023 Wisconsin Corridor of Famer, Watt began each years he performed for the Badgers and accrued 36.5 tackles for losses, 11.5 sacks and 106 tackles over 26 video games within the Large Ten. A future first-round choose, Watt was a three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr and five-time All-Professional earlier than retiring in 2023.
7. Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson
Over the first two seasons for Hunter Renfrow at Clemson, he torched Alabama. Getting into the 2015 nationwide championship sport, Renfrow was a little-known redshirt freshman. His 11 catches between the Orange Bowl (semifinal) and the nationwide title sport accounted for 33% of his manufacturing for your complete season, 247Sports’ Chris Hummer famous in a earlier story. His two touchdowns in opposition to Alabama within the finale have been a precursor to a breakout 12 months, which as soon as once more ended with a multi-touchdown sport in opposition to the Crimson Tide in one other nationwide title sport showdown, together with the game-winning rating from Deshaun Watson within the closing seconds. Renfrow performed the Crimson Tide twice extra throughout his profession, however didn’t register a landing. Renfrow caught 149 passes at Clemson for 1,741 yards and 10 scores.
6. Mike Hass, WR, Oregon State
Mike Hass averaged 17.8 yards per catch profession over a number of seasons with the Beavers, which nonetheless stands as one of the spectacular feats in program historical past. He tallied 86 catches for 1,379 yards as a second-year starter in 2004 earlier than notching 90 receptions for 1,532 yards the next 12 months. Over 36 profession video games, Hass reached the top zone 20 occasions. He was later drafted within the sixth spherical by the New Orleans Saints in 2016. Hass was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2022. He is a two-time All-American and received the Biletnikoff in 2005.
5. Jordy Nelson, Kansas State
Most-oft recognized for his NFL stardom as Aaron Rodgers’ go-to risk with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, Jordy Nelson first starred at Kansas State as an underrated pass-catcher whose finest season got here in 2007 when he almost received the Biletnikoff after hauling in 122 receptions for 1,606 yards and 11 touchdowns. Nelson had a pair passing touchdowns and punt return scores that season, too. These numbers have been outrageous for a participant who initially started his profession as a defensive again earlier than former Kansas State coach Invoice Snyder seen his velocity and athleticism throughout observe and requested him to maneuver to wideout.
4. Santana Moss, WR, Miami
One of the electrifying gamers in Miami soccer historical past, Santana Moss started his profession as a walk-on in 1997 earlier than rapidly assuming the position of go-to risk within the Hurricanes’ passing sport and on particular groups. The long run first-round choose is a member of Miami’s Corridor of Fame and is the varsity’s profession chief in all-purpose yards (4,402 yards), receiving yards (2,546), punt return yards (1,196) and profession punts returned for touchdowns (six). Moss led school soccer with 4 punts returned for touchdowns his senior season (2000).
3. Jim Leonhard, S, Wisconsin
Jim Leonhard was a ballhawk at security regardless of being beneath 5-foot-9 for the Badgers. He led the nation with 11 interceptions and a conference-high 25 go breakups in 2002 as a sophomore, greater than incomes his scholarship after strolling on beforehand. Leonhard was a three-time All-American with the Badgers. After his enjoying days in Madison, Leonhard turned one of many nation’s high assistants. Leonhard was reportedly a number one candidate in Michigan State’s teaching search earlier final fall earlier than the Spartans employed Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith after the firing of Mel Tucker. Leonhard was Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator from 2017 by way of the 2022 season, incomes finalist honors for the Broyles Award — given to the nation’s high assistant — in his first season because the chief of the Badgers’ protection.
2. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Baker Mayfield started his school profession as a walk-on at Texas Tech. However earlier than it was mentioned and completed, he had turn into among the best school soccer gamers of his technology. In Mayfield’s Heisman season of 2017, he led the Sooners to the School Soccer Playoff the place OU confronted off in opposition to Georgia from the Rose Bowl. And whereas Mayfield’s school days ended that day, it took double extra time. Georgia outlasted OU, 54-48, which capped a tremendous season from the Sooners quarterback. Mayfield accomplished 70.5% of his passes for 43 touchdowns and solely six interceptions. He additionally added 5 dashing touchdowns. Mayfield later turned the No. 1 total choose of the Cleveland Browns within the 2018 NFL Draft.
1. Stetson Bennett IV, QB, Georgia
The one two-time nationwide champion walk-on quarterback in school soccer historical past, Stetson Bennett IV without end etched his identify in Georgia lore over the ultimate two seasons of his profession with a pair of unbelievable showings. Bennett threw 52 landing passes and ran for 11 extra over 29 begins to finish his tenure as one of the adorned gamers in program historical past. Over 4 School Soccer Playoff video games, Bennett accounted for 15 touchdowns, together with six in his closing look — a 65-7 beatdown of TCU within the nationwide championship. Bennett was by no means imagined to be one of many SEC’s best gamers of all-time, however that is a testomony to his improvement and skill as a gamer.
