Walk-On, Preferred Walk-On, and Recruited Walk-On: The Differences | RosterWise™

The three types of walk-ons

College rosters include athletes who arrive under very different circumstances. Understanding the distinctions helps families set realistic expectations and ask the right questions.

Walk-on (open tryout)

A walk-on is an enrolled student who earns a spot on the team through an open tryout or coach invitation — without any prior recruiting relationship or guaranteed roster spot.

What it means:

• The athlete was not recruited by the coaching staff before enrollment
• No scholarship money is attached
• No guaranteed roster spot — the athlete must earn and keep their place through tryouts and ongoing performance
• The athlete is paying their own way (or receiving non-athletic financial aid)

Reality check: True open walk-on spots are increasingly rare at the D1 level, particularly after the House settlement imposed roster limits. A D1 soccer program with a 28-player roster limit has little room for open tryout additions. At D2, D3, and NAIA, walk-on opportunities are generally more available.

Preferred walk-on

A preferred walk-on (PWO) is an athlete who has been identified and recruited by the coaching staff — the coach wants them on the team — but no athletic scholarship money is being offered.

What it means:

• The coaching staff has evaluated the athlete and wants them
• The athlete has a guaranteed spot on the roster (at least initially)
• No athletic scholarship is attached — the athlete pays their own way or receives academic/need-based aid
• The athlete was “recruited” in the sense that the coach reached out, communicated interest, and offered a roster spot

Why this happens:

• The program has used all available scholarship funding on other recruits
• The athlete is valued but not at the level that commands scholarship money in a competitive allocation
• The coach expects the athlete may earn a scholarship after demonstrating performance in practice and competition
• In some cases, it’s a financial decision — the coach would offer a scholarship if the budget allowed it

Preferred walk-on is not a consolation prize. Many successful college athletes — including athletes who go on to earn scholarships and become starters — begin as preferred walk-ons. It is a legitimate path, especially for athletes who believe in their development trajectory.

Recruited walk-on

The term “recruited walk-on” is used somewhat loosely and overlaps with “preferred walk-on.” In general, it means the same thing: the coaching staff identified and recruited the athlete, but no scholarship money is being offered. Some programs and families use “recruited walk-on” and “preferred walk-on” interchangeably.

The key distinction from an open walk-on: The coaching staff knows about the athlete, wants them, and has offered a roster spot — even though no money is attached.

How the House settlement affects walk-ons

The House v. NCAA settlement (approved June 2025) has significant implications for walk-on athletes at Division I schools that opted into the settlement:

Roster limits replace scholarship limits

Before the settlement, D1 programs had sport-specific scholarship caps (e.g., 9.9 for men’s soccer) but could carry larger rosters by including walk-ons. A D1 men’s soccer program might have carried 30-35 players — 9.9 equivalency scholarships spread across some of them, plus walk-ons paying their own way.

Under the settlement, opt-in D1 schools now have roster limits rather than just scholarship limits. For example, D1 men’s soccer has a 28-player roster limit. That limit includes everyone — scholarship athletes and walk-ons alike.

Fewer total spots means fewer walk-on spots

When a roster is capped at 28 and a coaching staff has more scholarship funding available, the natural result is that more roster spots go to scholarship athletes and fewer go to walk-ons. Programs that previously carried 8-10 walk-ons may now carry 2-3, or none.

This is a real and significant change for families planning a walk-on path at D1 programs.

Not all schools opted in

The House settlement applies to schools that opted into the revenue-sharing model. Power conference schools (SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12) opted in. Other D1 conferences had the option. Programs that did not opt in retain traditional scholarship structures without roster limits — but also cannot share revenue with athletes.

Families should ask each program directly: “Did your school opt into the House settlement? What is your current roster limit? How many walk-on spots do you typically carry?”

D2, D3, and NAIA are less affected

The House settlement primarily targets D1. D2 programs generally continue under traditional rules. D3 programs have no athletic scholarships and flexible roster sizes. NAIA programs set their own roster policies. Walk-on opportunities at these divisions remain more accessible than at opt-in D1 schools.

The walk-on-to-scholarship path

One of the most common questions families ask: “If my athlete walks on, can they earn a scholarship later?”

The honest answer: it’s possible, but not guaranteed, and families should not count on it.

Some walk-ons earn scholarships after one or two years of demonstrating value in practice and competition. Coaches can move scholarship money around year to year — if a scholarship athlete transfers out, that money may become available for a walk-on who has proven themselves.

However:

• There is no obligation for a coach to award a scholarship to a walk-on
• Scholarship decisions are made annually and depend on the program’s overall roster and budget
• The competition for scholarship money intensifies as portal transfers bring more experienced options
• A verbal assurance of “we’ll get you money after your first year” is not a commitment

If a coach suggests a walk-on-to-scholarship path, ask specific questions: How often has this happened on the current team? How many walk-ons have earned scholarships in the past three years? What specific benchmarks would the athlete need to meet?

Questions families should ask

If your athlete is considering a walk-on or preferred walk-on role:

• What is the roster limit for this sport at your institution?
• How many walk-ons are currently on the roster?
• What is the realistic path to earning a scholarship as a walk-on?
• How many walk-ons have earned scholarships in the past three seasons?
• Is the walk-on spot guaranteed for the full academic year, or is it subject to roster cuts?
• What financial aid (academic, need-based) is available to offset the cost?

These questions are not aggressive — they’re responsible. Any coaching staff worth playing for will answer them honestly.

Walk-ons at different divisions

D1 (opt-in schools): Fewest walk-on opportunities due to roster limits. Walk-on spots are competitive and may be scarce.

D1 (non-opt-in schools): More walk-on opportunities than opt-in schools, since roster limits may not apply in the same way. Still competitive.

D2: Walk-on opportunities exist and are more available than D1. Partial scholarships mean many D2 athletes receive some aid but not full rides, creating a spectrum from fully funded to walk-on.

D3: No athletic scholarships at all — every D3 athlete is technically a “walk-on” in the scholarship sense. But D3 coaches actively recruit athletes and support their admissions and academic aid applications. The D3 model is fundamentally different.

NAIA: Walk-on opportunities exist alongside scholarship athletes. NAIA programs generally have flexible roster sizes.

The bigger picture

Walking on to a college team can be a wonderful experience. It can also be a frustrating, expensive experience if expectations don’t match reality.

The families who have the best walk-on experiences are the ones who:

• Go in with realistic expectations about playing time and scholarship potential
• Understand the financial commitment of paying full cost of attendance
• Choose the school for academic and personal fit, not just athletics
• View the walk-on experience as an opportunity to prove themselves, not as a failure to earn a scholarship

Every athlete’s path is different. Some of the best stories in college athletics involve walk-ons who earned scholarships, became starters, and had careers no one predicted. Those stories are real — but they are not universal. Families should plan for the most likely outcome, not the best-case scenario.