We as a society understand the plight of the walk-on college football player, and we celebrate his successes.
Little is handed to him but the promise of a roster spot if he works hard. He must learn the playbook, work himself into physical shape and make every practice repetition count — while paying his own way in school and fighting the bias toward the student-athletes on scholarship playing around him.
Walk-on football players come and go, year after year, with occasional impact on the depth chart. If they ever see the field, we the fans recognize the vindication of their hard work.
Oregon has 29 walk-ons on its highly regarded football team. This spring, they have turned heads with their individual efforts and climbed the depth chart.
And, it may be said, they have stolen the show from the scholarship players.
Who has played the best for the Ducks this spring? A case could be made for Ramsen Golpashin, who would start at right guard if the season commenced today. The walk-on senior from Saugus, Calif., was a top reserve last season, playing in 12 of 13 games, and has become a steady presence as the Ducks continue to search for their best five options.
Justin Hoffman was one of four walk-ons last season to earn a one-year scholarship, and he is the only one returning to Oregon this season. The junior wide receiver from Eugene caught three passes for 15 yards in 2010, playing in 12 of 13 games. Hoffman is in line to start in the spot previously occupied by D.J. Davis, and with good reason — he is considered to be the spiritual successor to Davis in terms of blocking prowess.
Four scholarship wide receivers — freshmen Devon Blackmon, B.J. Kelley and Tacoi Sumler and junior-college transfer Rahsaan Vaughn — will join the ranks of the Ducks this season and make life harder on the walk-ons at wide receiver. This spring, however, the walk-ons are giving Scott Frost and the rest of the Oregon staff things to think about come fall camp.
Aside from Hoffman’s continued inspired play, Albany native Will Murphy has proven himself valuable to the two-deep at wide receiver, backing up Lavasier Tuinei. Elmira native Chad Delaney caught one pass for the Ducks last season, and sophomore slot receiver Dane Ebanez — a native of North Pole, Alaska, of all places — has seen his repetitions increase as Josh Huff remains sidelined.
Even the running back position — arguably the deepest on the team — has enjoyed the efforts of redshirt freshman Ayele Forde, currently fourth on the Oregon depth chart. The Victorville, Calif., native is a 5-foot-7, 179-pound scatback who has broken off long runs in practice and generally made the most of his spring.
Scholarship athletes on the Duck defense have made all kinds of impact on the spring, as six starting positions remain up for grabs. (A shoulder injury has sidelined the most productive player, sophomore special teams ace and outside linebacker Keloni Kamalani, this spring.)
Redshirt freshman linebacker Isaac Ava may be only 5-foot-10, but the Ewa Beach, Hawaii native has made an impact lower in the depth chart. Eugene native Nick Musgrove had two tackles from his defensive end position last season for the Ducks, and due to injuries he has come up to the No. 2 defense and held his own.
Remember these names come Saturday. You may not hear them for quite a while, but some of these walk-on players will make an impact for Oregon football in the fall.
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Husseman: Football walk-ons make the most of their spring seasons
Daily Emerald
April 24, 2011
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