In the history of college football, walk-ons have gone on to become some of the greatest players of all time, including NFL stars, a No. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner.
With the proposed revamping of college football rosters and the decrease in roster size from 120 to 105, but with all players on scholarship, the idea of walk-ons as we know it might be a thing of the past.
Here’s a look at the three greatest walk-ons in Big 12 Conference history:
3. Adam Archuleta, LB, Arizona State: Archuleta came to Arizona State as a walk-on and became a two-time All-Pac-10 pick and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2000. Archuleta was a first-round pick by the St. Louis Rams and played seven seasons in the NFL at safety.
2. Baker Mayfield, QB, Texas Tech/Oklahoma: Mayfield is obviously the greatest walk-on in college football history but for this context, he was actually at his best at Oklahoma so we are dropping him one spot. Mayfield was the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year at Texas Tech at 2013 then transferred to Oklahoma, where he was the two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, won the Heisman Trophy in 2017 and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
1. Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas State: Nelson joined the Wildcats as a walk-on out of tiny Riley County High School in Riley, Kansas, and became one of the greatest players in Kansas State history. He went on to play over a decade in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers and earning NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2014.
The 61st greatest K-State football play of all time
— The Kansas State Fan (@Thekstatefan) June 30, 2024
Jordy Nelson brings the punt return 89 yards for the touchdown vs Texas 2007 pic.twitter.com/QJQF6Y4p7g
