FWIW, I can come up with a couple of examples of walk ons in the last decade that were awarded scholarships and still chose to leave after graduation with remaining eligibility. One played last year.
So much to say.
Walk ons being critical to program means BAD things are happening.
Attrition of starter -
due to injury (burnett 40?)
Or personal walk off (Andrews - unknown) cause 15 w have injuries and play some thin freshmen . 31 red shirted and is a beast.
A position coach cant bring players to peak performance ( Sewak and Klock and Bryan start as freshmen!! But Klock left and would RATHER BE A 5th yearc BIT PLAYER AT a successfulb NORTHWESTERN. Bryan got left out his senior year after starting half way thru true freshmen year. After starting Lee as freshmen- he can't finish so we start a r freshmen. The Morgans into black hole. Thank goodness for the Walk on B Idemeyer - he helped out a lot .
If we can get a pipeline of 5th year senior going - they will be solid their 4th and 5th year . DEVELOP THEM, PLAY THEM SOME, AND HAVE FUN. After freshmen year put the high academic guys on lighter class load w Heavy business intern ATL.
My son did this in college. Itcwas a disorganized college and he walked on. BETWEEN his r shirt Jr year and r sr year his body TOTALLY transformed into a man beast . All conference. Then injured. Now a coach and loving it.
Doesn't a winning program have motivated r jr and r sr all thru the roster .