College football is built on tradition. The bands. The pageantry. The rivalries. And maybe most importantly, the belief that anyone on campus could someday put on the uniform and live the dream.
Razorbacks Should Reinstate Walk-On Tryouts for Football
That’s exactly why Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield has a golden opportunity to become an instant fan favorite in Fayetteville, and it doesn’t require a splashy transfer or a five-star signing. All it takes is bringing back a classic college football tradition: open walk-on tryouts.
With FBS programs expanding scholarship limits from 85 to 105 players, every staff in the country is now faced with the same question: How do you fill the extra 20 spots? Many schools are choosing to sign larger recruiting classes. Others are diving even deeper into the transfer portal, grabbing players simply just to fill out the roster.
But there’s another option, one that connects the program directly to the student body and the fan base, and it’s hiding in plain sight.
Let students try out.
Believe it or not, this tradition isn’t dead as many may have thought. One of the sport’s premier powerhouses, the Alabama Crimson Tide, is back to holding walk-on tryouts. Yes, that Alabama. The program with national titles, five-stars stacked on five-stars, and a reputation for elite depth at every position.
If Alabama can do it, Arkansas absolutely can.
There’s no downside really, only good can come from it. Walk-on tryouts cost very little, require minimal resources, and can immediately inject energy into the program. For the student body, it creates excitement, the idea that someone sitting in the stands or walking across campus might actually earn a spot on the Razorbacks roster. That kind of belief matters, especially in a college town like Fayetteville.
And history shows that walk-ons aren’t just feel-good stories. They become legends.
The Legacy of Walk-Ons in College Football
Take Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on who went on to win two national championships at Georgia. Or Baker Mayfield, who started as a walk-on at Texas Tech before becoming a Heisman Trophy winner for Oklahoma and the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Wisconsin fans will never forget Jim Leonhard, a former walk-on who became an All-American safety and carved out a long NFL career.
Those stories resonate because they represent what college football is supposed to be about: earning everything, fighting for respect, and refusing to be overlooked.
There’s also a football benefit that coaches understand better than anyone. Walk-ons almost always carry a chip on their shoulder. They practice harder. They push scholarship players. They don’t take reps for granted. Over time, they raise the competitive floor of the entire roster.
Even if only one or two players from tryouts ever make meaningful contributions, the culture impact alone is worth it.
For Arkansas specifically, this could be a powerful move. The Razorbacks pride themselves on toughness, effort, and blue-collar football. Walk-on tryouts align perfectly with that identity. They send a message that the program values work ethic and heart just as much as recruiting rankings.
So here’s the pitch, Coach Silverfield: bring back walk-on tryouts in Fayetteville. Let students chase the dream. Let competition thrive. Let the culture grow organically.
If Alabama can keep the tradition alive, Arkansas can too.
And if you do? Don’t be surprised when Razorback fans start warming up to you a whole lot faster.