SEC coaches voice opposition to eliminating walk-ons with hard roster cap

SEC coaches are in Destin for the annual spring meetings, tackling a wide range of topics including the ever-shifting landscape of college football. One thing in particular became clear from Tuesday’s comments.

No one in the SEC is eager to see a hard roster cap or the elimination of walk-on programs in college football.

The question of roster caps comes about following the NCAA’s landmark settlement to put to bed the House v. NCAA antitrust lawsuit. It’s unclear how that settlement and future revenue-sharing with college athletes will shape roster construction, but Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko does not agree with capping rosters at 85 scholarship players.

“I’m strongly against it,” Elko said via Pete Thamel with ESPN. “I think it’s absolutely against college football, what it stands for and what it’s about. I think that would be a major problem, especially, when you look at legacies of Texas A&M kids that are going to get the opportunity to play football at Texas A&M potentially taken away from them.

“I think that’s something’s really bad for the sport.”

Kirby Smart echoed similar sentiments, admitting the idea of eliminating walk-ons entirely is a baffling one. Current coaches Will Muschamp and Dabo Swinney themselves were previously walk-ons.

“I don’t know anybody that would be against having walk-ons,” he said. “At what cost does that bring us? I think it hurts high school football, and football as a whole, when kids can’t even dream [for the opportunity to walk on].”

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea is also a former walk-on. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian also pointed out Texas currently has 35 walk-on football players, and many programs across the country have deep traditions tied to walk-ons.

College football also hands out the Burlsworth Award as one of the most prestigious awards in the country. It is given annually to the most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on.

“I’m hopeful we can find a common ground on something that is a reasonable number,” Sarkisian said. “Again, I’m not opposed to change. Change is going to happen. Okay? But hopefully we can find a reasonable number to where we still feel like we can operate at a high level as coaches and for our players.”

“I think that’s something’s really bad for the sport.” SEC football coaches united in support to keep walk-ons. https://t.co/dRgMLoVTOK

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 28, 2024

While there may be some momentum toward roster limitations in the new era of college football, it is hard to imagine a world where walk-ons are entirely eliminated from the sport. With such a rich history throughout the sport, hopefully they remain included in the fabric of college football moving forward.

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.