03-31-2012, 05:39 PM
"Preferred walk-on" seems to mean whatever a school wants it to mean. There's no fixed meaning, so far as I can tell. However, there are a couple of things that often are involved in being a "preferred walk-on."
"Preferred walk-on" can mean that a player is guaranteed a spot on the team. At some schools, being invited to walk on is really just an invitation to a try-out, with the walk-ons at risk of being cut.
"Preferred walk-on" also can mean that the player is guaranteed a spot on the 105-player roster. Under NCAA rules, the number of players in fall camp cannot exceed 105. Once classes start, the 105-player limit no longer applies. At a school on the quarter system, classes don't start until the team has played 2 or 3 games, so players who are not on the 105-man roster must miss several games. For the last few years, Stanford has had more than 105 players on the roster. Unless several players get injured and miss fall camp, it's possible that a few of the walk-ons may have to miss fall camp and the first few games.
"Preferred walk-on" can mean that a player is guaranteed a spot on the team. At some schools, being invited to walk on is really just an invitation to a try-out, with the walk-ons at risk of being cut.
"Preferred walk-on" also can mean that the player is guaranteed a spot on the 105-player roster. Under NCAA rules, the number of players in fall camp cannot exceed 105. Once classes start, the 105-player limit no longer applies. At a school on the quarter system, classes don't start until the team has played 2 or 3 games, so players who are not on the 105-man roster must miss several games. For the last few years, Stanford has had more than 105 players on the roster. Unless several players get injured and miss fall camp, it's possible that a few of the walk-ons may have to miss fall camp and the first few games.