Walk-on players are invaluable to college football, but House v. NCAA settlement provides uncertain future

Camden Dempsey was among those sitting slack-jawed in the Colorado team room 26 months ago. The little-used offensive lineman heard his new coach famously telling those Buffaloes to essentially vacate the premises.

“I’m bringing my [own] roster with me,” Deion Sanders said that day.

Dempsey, a walk-on who had blown out his ACL the previous year, didn’t need to be hit over the head with a goal post to get the message. He didn’t qualify as “Louie,” Sanders’ preferred reference to both portal-ready designer players … and luggage.

By that time, however, Dempsey was already a valuable member of the team — something more than a warm body. That’s why part of Dempsey’s purpose these days is to prove every program needs those warm walk-on bodies.

“When coach came in there wasn’t a sit-down interview process,” Dempsey recalled to CBS Sports recently. “It was an interview over the course of four months. Every day you’d show up to practice, every workout you were at. That was really my interview process.”

In that sense, Dempsey had a better chance at making the team than scholarship athletes because he showed up. Those walk-ons, those non-scholarship roster fillers who seldom get in a game are instrumental to the mission. 

Not that Dempsey needs that scholarship. Both his parents are lawyers. His education is being paid for via a prestigious Boettcher academic scholarship, a four-year full ride. Dempsey has already started his own business as part of a class project. 

The finance and marketing major is pursuing his master’s in real estate. 

Also, in four seasons, he has appeared in one game. Hardly Louie. 

It’s because of Dempsey’s selfless work ethic that Coach Prime never did cut him. The lawyers, however, are doing their darndest. 

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/walk-on-players-are-invaluable-to-college-football-but-house-v-ncaa-settlement-provides-uncertain-future/

Author : Dennis Dodd

Publish date : 2025-02-17 18:18:00

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