Walk-Ons: Who Gets a Scholarship?

[alwayshusking]

I think it is interesting that Burtch is not getting his scholarship renewed. Although he was injured all of last year and sat out in the spring, he was set for this year until he had another injury. He is only supposed to be out 2-4 weeks though, unless I missed something. Until that injury he was supposed to provide depth at receiver and have significant playing time. Now I wonder if he will even see the field this year.

Don't think he'll see much time. He simply hasn't practiced much in the new offense.

 

[Thanks_Tom RR]

I think it is interesting that Burtch is not getting his scholarship renewed. Although he was injured all of last year and sat out in the spring, he was set for this year until he had another injury. He is only supposed to be out 2-4 weeks though, unless I missed something. Until that injury he was supposed to provide depth at receiver and have significant playing time. Now I wonder if he will even see the field this year.

Yeah, I am disappointed for Burtch. This is his senior year, and unlike three upperclassmen WR who have had minimal production (I won't name names, but I am sure everyone can figure it out), Burtch has earned his scholarship, despite injury.

How? He has 12 career receptions for 147 yards and 3 Tds.

I remember him coming up big in the second half of the 2013 season. He was the main WR target during the final drive leading to the Hail Mary against Northwestern and broke out during the Michigan St game, arguably our toughest competition that year. There were high expectations for him last year, until his pre-season injury.
Besides, that is as good if not better single season production than two of our junior/senior WR on scholarship.

But that's also his career production...mind naming the other two WR's so we can compare stats?

I'm assuming he means Taariq Allen and Alonzo Moore. Allen has more receptions and less yards, Moore has more receptions and more yards. There's no mention of special teams on Burtch's or Moore's bio pages but there is on Allen's. But regardless, the scholarship isn't just about past production it's about potential for production.

Moore and Burtch aren't on the same level so I hope that's not one. Allen is a decent comparable, and if he was a walk-on who hadnt played the previous year, missed fall camp, and wouldn't be ready for the beginning of the season I'd be fine with him not getting a scholly either.

Burtch has come up clutch when his number has been called. He is a role player and does that job well. Moore may be a bigger home run hitter but is inconsistent at best, up to this point.
As far as scholarship vs walk-ons are concerned, I am not concerned about how they got on the team but their contribution on the field. Take away guys like Reilly, Burtch, and Hovey (even Reimers from fall camp reports) and tell me you are confident about our WR group.

However, I missed that Burtch got dinged up again, so I can now see why he did not get his scholarship renewed.

 

[Mavric]

I would take Burtch over Moore. Burtch's stats from his redshirt sophomore season (2013) are slightly better than Moore's redshirt sophomore season (2014) so it's not so much production as production lately.

Burtch is in a similar boat as Reilly - he earned his way on the field as a walk-on redshirt sophomore and played quite a bit. He doesn't have a lot of stats because he was playing in a run-heavy offense behind two NFL WRs and some other pretty good talent (Westerkamp and Turner). But his problem is that's been a long time ago for the new staff to be able to evaluate. Nothing from last year and now nothing from spring or fall due to injuries. They just don't have much of anything to go by.

 

[Mavric]

There are now eight members of the 2012 walk-on class that are on scholarship. That's pretty impressive.

Ross Dzuris - TE - Plattsmouth, NE (Plattsmouth)
Sam Foltz - DB/P - Grand Island, NE (Grand Island)
Dylan Utter - OL - Papillion, NE (Papillion-La Vista)
Brandon Reilly - WR - Lincoln, NE (Southwest))
Ryker Fyfe - QB - Grand Island, NE (Grand Island)
Andy Janovich - FB - Gretna, NE (Gretna)
Trey Foster - TE - Lincoln, NE (Southeast)
Lane Hovey - WR - Adel, IA (Adel-Desoto-Minburn)

Plus a couple others that are likely contributors on special teams:
Jordan Nelson - RB - Omaha, NE (Burke)
Graham Nabity - RB - Elkhorn, NE (Elkhorn)
Spencer Lindsay - K - Kearney, NE (Kearney)

 

[Mavric]

[No message]

 

[zoogs]

Wow, look at that 2007 list.