Not sure I am using this term correctly, so I did some homework which may or may not be accurate since the NCAA does not define or regulate PWO status.
Scholarship limit = 85
Roster limit = 105
PWO - one of the 20 in between the scholarship limit & the roster limit.
“Preferred walk-on means you join the team and are a part of the team – are treated the same and receive the same benefits (academic support, equipment, coaching, etc.) as everybody else with the exception of at the cash register – they will have a bill.
Preferred guys are guaranteed a spot on the 105 but not on the traveling squad.
from http://www.dawgsonline.com/2017/02/01/whats-a-preferred-walk-on/
“preferred walk-on” (PWO) is meaningless as far as the NCAA is concerned. They’re simply non-scholarship players. It’s a term without any kind of formal or standard definition. It’s up to each school how they distinguish one walk-on from another – if at all. Each school runs its own walk-on program differently guided only by the limits of 85 scholarship players and 105 total players on the roster. Though most coaches are up-front about the path to a scholarship, some choose to avoid creating a distinction among their walk-ons. Depending on the program, being a PWO might mean:
Just having a hot nourishing breakfast cooked by somebody else and ready at 7 am to get me to 8am class on time would have been incredible for me while in school at UF.
My usual b'fast choices were either cold cereal or PB&J !
Text from a former PWO - “I was a preferred walk-on at a division 1 program. To the program, all it meant was that I was part of the 105. To me, it meant so much more: the extra time to develop myself, extra time to build relationships with teammates and coaches, and extra time to be a part of something great!
Anyone who has been a PWO at Florida, please speak up !
Scholarship limit = 85
Roster limit = 105
PWO - one of the 20 in between the scholarship limit & the roster limit.
“Preferred walk-on means you join the team and are a part of the team – are treated the same and receive the same benefits (academic support, equipment, coaching, etc.) as everybody else with the exception of at the cash register – they will have a bill.
Preferred guys are guaranteed a spot on the 105 but not on the traveling squad.
from http://www.dawgsonline.com/2017/02/01/whats-a-preferred-walk-on/
“preferred walk-on” (PWO) is meaningless as far as the NCAA is concerned. They’re simply non-scholarship players. It’s a term without any kind of formal or standard definition. It’s up to each school how they distinguish one walk-on from another – if at all. Each school runs its own walk-on program differently guided only by the limits of 85 scholarship players and 105 total players on the roster. Though most coaches are up-front about the path to a scholarship, some choose to avoid creating a distinction among their walk-ons. Depending on the program, being a PWO might mean:
- They are recruited and invited by the staff. The PWO is recruited like any scholarship player but with the understanding that he will not be on scholarship. Coaches may promise the opportunity to earn a scholarship down the road if one becomes available.
- They are all but guaranteed to make the 105-man roster. Not every walk-on who comes out for the team will last, but preferred walk-ons don’t have to go through a cattle-call tryout. This seems to be the minimum consensus definition of a PWO.
- They are involved in all team activities – meetings, community service, Fan Day, etc.
- They have access to team perks. This includes gear, access to the weight room and training facilities, and academic support. They also have access to team meals and the dining hall but must pay for meals.
- They may travel to the bowl game. Walk-ons (and even some scholarship players) don’t travel with the team to road games. The rules are looser for bowls, and walk-ons receive the same travel stipend, per-diem distributions, and bowl swag as the scholarship players.
Just having a hot nourishing breakfast cooked by somebody else and ready at 7 am to get me to 8am class on time would have been incredible for me while in school at UF.
My usual b'fast choices were either cold cereal or PB&J !
Text from a former PWO - “I was a preferred walk-on at a division 1 program. To the program, all it meant was that I was part of the 105. To me, it meant so much more: the extra time to develop myself, extra time to build relationships with teammates and coaches, and extra time to be a part of something great!
Anyone who has been a PWO at Florida, please speak up !
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