While 85 football scholarships are given out

to highly recruited athletes from across the

nation, securing those players a spot on the

Bulldog roster, some highly determined but not-

so-highly sought after players are able to find

their place on the team as walk-ons.

A walk-on is a player who was not signed to

a scholarship but wants to play and has to work

hard enough to make the team.

Assistant coaches Joe Tereshinski and Eric

Fears are in charge of putting prospective foot-

ball players through the same workouts as the

varsity players.

“Some players have a desire, a dream and

commitment to make it,” Tereshinski said.

Currently, walk-ons represent about 45 play-

ers on the roster.

Some, who have become familiar names,

include seniors Drew Cronic at split end, Mark

Johnson, who has taken care of the kickoff

duties, and senior long-snapper Matt Rabon.

Others make up the scout teams and give the

first team players their competition in practice.

Cronic has seen action in all three games

this year and had one reception for 14 yards

against Arkansas State, while Johnson has put

six of 12 kickoffs into the endzone, and less than

half have been returned.

Walk-on candidates must have played at

least two years of high school football, and

many have been recommended to the Georgia

coaching staff by their high school coach.

The largest tryout occurs in January during

winter workouts, which test players’ agility,

speed and strength.

Prospective players are tested in the 40-yard

dash, shuttle run, bench press and squat, the

same workouts by which the scholarship play-

ers are measured.

Those candidates who perform as well or bet-

ter on these tests as the lowest-ranked scholar-

ship player at their position are invited out to

spring practice.

Based on their performance in spring prac-

tice, some players are asked back to join the

team for the next season.

“Some kids just find their niche,” Tereshinski

said.

Some walk-ons are even good enough to earn

themselves a scholarship and for that reason,

the coaches save about two scholarships every

year with which they may reward a walk on

who deserves it.

The idea of walking on to a college football

team has been glorified in movies like “Rudy,”

which was based on the true story of an an

undersized but courageous high school player

who made the Notre Dame practice squad and

eventually played in his final senior year game.

One of the most famous walk-ons in Bulldog

history hadn’t ever played American football

until he came to the University.

Richard Tardits, a native of France and a

rugby player, walked on and earned a starting

position at defensive end. Over the course of his

collegiate career he recorded 29 quarterback

sacks. And by the end of his collegiate career

Tardits had garnered honors as an All-SEC

player and even spent a few years in the NFL.

At the very least, walking on represents a

chance for those athletes who believe they are

good enough to play on the college level to prove

themselves.

“Though we have a responsibility to prepare

the best possible team, we also have a responsi-

bility to young people,” Tereshinski said of

working with the athletes who have aspirations

of making the team.

Anyone interested about winter tryouts

should call Tereshinski at 542-1515.