Bowling Green (KY) Bowling Green TE/OLB Dane Drobocky
Bowling Green (KY) Bowling Green tight end Dane Drobocky committed to Michigan on Monday as a preferred walk-on. The 6’4″, 210 lb. prospect visited Ann Arbor for the game against Rutgers on Saturday.
Hit the jump for some highlights.
Drobocky runs pretty good routes, but he isn’t very athletic. I imagine his ceiling as a backup tight end or defensive end.
He joins Pennsylvania QB Michael Shuster and Michigan TE Simeon Smith as preferred walk-on commitments for 2016.
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What exactly is a “preferred” walk-on vs. a “regular” walk-on?
The name implies a greater degree of “acceptance” … but I’m not sure what that means in practical terms.
Also, how many people try to “walk on” to Michigan in any given year, and of those how many (roughly) are allowed to suit up? I’m sure there’s a process to that, but I’ve never been clear on what it is.
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A preferred walk-on is essentially guaranteed a spot on the roster. They’re not guaranteed a scholarship or playing time, but they won’t come to school wondering whether they can get on the team or not. A regular walk-on is a guy who comes into a student body tryout (like Jordan Kovacs or the famous Rudy) and makes the team.
I’m not entirely sure how many people attempt to walk on per year, although there are certainly lots of them. Only 105 players may engage in practices before the first day of school (or the first game, whichever is first), but any number may be added afterward. So you might only have 105 players in camp, but once Michigan played the opener against Utah, they could add 20 more walk-ons if they wanted.
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Thanks! That makes sense.
I would imagine the student body tryout is quite a crowd. Probably in the 100+ range. And why not? If you’re someone who played in high school and just want to be part of the game, this would be a way to do it.
I would love to attend the student body trying as an observer, just to see the process … see the variety of people who show up … see what they judge on. No way I could be a participant … certainly not now, and not back when I was an 18 year old either. 🙂
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