question about walk-on OL
Has there ever been a case when walk on OL guys become serviceable or even better in Big Ten play?
As everyone knows, our depth next year is a little shaky. But it looks we have some huge OL walk-ons, such as Gunderson and Glasgow, that have size. I don't think these guys had any offers for D1 play, which seems suspect. But they must bring something to the table with size like that. Can they be coached up to match a scholly player? Or are OL walk-ons usually doomed to the practice team?
October 19th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
Nebraska has one who's starting at LG right now (I think he's starting, I know he's on the 2-Deep). GT had an All-ACC center in 2009 and 2010 who was a former walkon.
Somebody will get on and spout off a big list of Michigan O-Lineman who started as walkons and became All-Big Ten/NFL draft picks, but there's my contribution.
October 19th, 2011 at 1:02 PM ^
I would love to know what makes a HUGE O-lineman not recieve any offers, when you see a lot of smaller guys that are 5 stars. Strength, technique? Interested to know...
October 19th, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^
Exposure is a big part of it. A kid from a smallish HS in the midwest who doesn't attend all the major camps will have a harder time getting the rankings and offers that a guy like Erik Magnuson gets. Obviously though, size is not the only factor and the things you mention plus athleticism, aggression and other measureables are taken into account.
October 19th, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
if you are referring to Glasgow and lack of offers/star, i believe he only played football his senior year so this is probably why. He had offers to several mac schools but obviously was told something good from both tsio and Michigan.
October 19th, 2011 at 1:03 PM ^
Walk ons at all positions, especially preferred, can end up seeing the field (see Moundros, Kovacs, Heininger, Brink, et al) and have an impact. Since the OL is the toughest area to scout and players bodies change so much from 17 or 18 to 21 or 22 it's likely the easiest position group for a walk-on to overtake a scholarship player.
Glasgow is a big guy who didn't have many D1 offers, but was getting looked at by major programs, including UM and OSU. However, it might be more likely that one of the older walk-ons like Gunderon, Matteus or Burzinski see the field next year.
October 19th, 2011 at 1:34 PM ^
OL is largely about physicality, so the 6'4 300 lb pool of people (which is limited in the first place) gets scouted out pretty thoroughly. It's tough to name many walk-on OL who start. Meanwhile, 6'nuthin LB/Safeties with average speed are dime a dozen. However a key differentiator (great instincts and quick reactions) is difficult to scout out - therefore you see LBs and Ss walk-ons who start. This is a common occurance nationwide.
October 19th, 2011 at 3:41 PM ^
October 19th, 2011 at 1:04 PM ^
I'm not sure how much you can coach up speed and quickness. A lot of bigger guys don't get to play div 1 football since they do not have the speed and quickness to play at this level. But I'm not sure about the two walk-ons. If they do have the quickness may be good coaching can teach them the technique to succeed?
October 19th, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
oline is generally considered the hardest position to project. there are plenty of examples where rating services have been way off, in both directions. omameh was a 2star to rivals. jake long was a meh 4star. david molk was a 3star. stephen schilling was a 5star. it is certainly not out of the question for a walkon olinemen to develop into a contributor.
however having size and strength is only part of it. obviously there is technique, but that can be learned. quick feet, on the other hand, is generally something you either have or dont have.
October 19th, 2011 at 1:08 PM ^
Another example is Patrick Omameh. I know he wasn't a walk-on, but he was a 2-star that almost no one wanted when he signed. He put on a ton of weight and ended up being the top OL in a class that brought in a handful of highly rated OLs. OL is a spot where overachieving is very possible.
October 19th, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
The success rate, even with Michigan consistently landing 3,4, and 5-star guys, is around 50-60% for producing reliable B1G-caliber contributors. While OL rankings may be less accurate overall, like any other position, the probability of sucess does correlate to rankings.
There's a chance these 'preferred' walk-on's contribute. Overachieving IS possible. However, so is underachieving. Therefore, it's more likely that an opportunity arises in 2013, when the veteran depth gets REALLY thin, than in 2012. I know everyone's asssuming the 2012 class is going to fill the need but history says they're unlikely to produce multiple players who can start as sophomores (or RS freshman). Taylor Lewan could turn pro. Schofield could stick to OG. Bryant and Miller may or may not be starter-material. There is much uncertainty.
I think people can overrate the 'preferred walkon' status. Griese, yes, but that was a different era. Right now, Michigan seems to have nearly a dozen 'preferred' walk-ons on the team. I'm not sure it means all that much. Glasgow and Gunderson may not be any better than the non-preferred walk-ons we have now or have had in the past.
October 19th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
I know IU's starting RG is a redshirt freshman walk-on. He is very undersized though
October 19th, 2011 at 3:53 PM ^
A few years ago, Iowa had a walk-on OT (Robert Gallery) become an All-Big Ten (and possibly All-America) player.
October 19th, 2011 at 3:57 PM ^
October 19th, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^
I know his teammate in '02, center Bruce Nelson, was a walk-on who went on to play for the Panthers in the NFL. Gallery was all-state coming out of high school. I can't find anything that says he was a walk-on.
October 19th, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^
Maybe I'm getting them mixed up. I do know that Dallas Clark, their excellent TE from around that time, was also a walk-on. Ferentz has found some diamonds in the rough.
October 19th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
Mike Caputo walked on for the Huskers and is now the starting center.
October 19th, 2011 at 5:53 PM ^
One name I'm surprised I haven't seen yet is Gary Yerden. Gary started playing football his senior year of high school. He's 6'5, 330 lbs dead lifting champion hailing from illinois.
I think with some coaching, he could at least turn into a competent backup.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/yerden_gary00.html
October 19th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
But I remember a few posts about gary yerden not being on the team anymore. Looking at the current roster he is not listed, neither is walk-on dallas williams or baquer sayed.
October 19th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^
You are right! I wonder what happened to the kid. I didn't hear about him leaving.
I thought he was going to be a big surprise. Now I am pretty pissed off.
October 19th, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^
Obviously they suck this season, but the past few years they relied on walk-ons for the offensive line. Also Brandon Burlsworth walked on at arkansas and became on All-American, and eventually had an award named after him. The burlsworth trophy started last season and is given to the most outstanding player in the country to start his career as a walk-on.
October 20th, 2011 at 10:54 AM ^
the Jordan Kovacs Memorial Trophy when Kovacs graduates.
October 19th, 2011 at 7:25 PM ^
From the OP: "But they must bring something to the table with size like that."
As others have noted, the answer can be summed up in athleticism. I'm guessing that Gunderson (all 6'8" of him) is a walk-on because he's not as athletic as Taylor Lewan. He's probably not "quick-twitch" (as the expression goes) and he probably doesn't run very fast.
October 20th, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^
From what I've seen, Gunderson doesn't look like a star, but he could be a serviceable backup.
October 20th, 2011 at 8:12 AM ^
At the NFL combines, athletes now also use an intelligence test. The top 4 positions for intelligence rate out in this order, starting with number one (the most intelligent, at least based on the Wonderlic test): tackle, center, quarterback, guard.
http://benfry.com/writing/archives/147
A big athletic slow witted guy isn't likely to make for a quality offensive lineman.
(I mixed up the order in my original post but corrected it in an edit.)