In college sports, there is a distinction between a regular walk-on and a preferred walk-on.
A regular walk-on refers to a player who joins a college sports team without receiving an athletic scholarship. They essentially try out for the team during open tryouts or through other means, and if they meet the team’s requirements and are chosen, they become part of the team. Regular walk-ons typically do not receive financial aid or scholarships specifically for their athletic abilities.
On the other hand, a preferred walk-on is a term used for athletes who are invited to join a college sports team without a scholarship initially but are given a higher level of consideration compared to regular walk-ons. Preferred walk-ons may be promising athletes who the coaching staff believes have the potential to contribute to the team in the future or athletes who may receive scholarship offers at a later time.
The main difference lies in the level of interest and consideration shown by the coaching staff. Preferred walk-ons may have a higher chance of eventually earning an athletic scholarship, but it ultimately depends on their performance, development, and the availability of scholarships within the program.
Recently Ray Allen’s son Ray Allen III was a preferred walk-on for Rhode Island. Allen III was an unranked prospect by all major recruiting services with the hopes of becoming a scholarship player and contributor to the program in the future.
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
