Florida Football: Two walk-ons earn scholarships with Gators

Whether it’s with Florida football or any other college program in America, life as a walk-on can be brutal. You have to go through all the same practices, off-season lifting sessions, and meetings that the scholarship guys go through, but when it comes time for the game, you are stuck on the sideline.

And unlike the scholarship guys, you’re paying for the privilege.

Two walk-ons had their efforts recognized by Billy Napier and were awarded scholarships with the Florida Gators.

Florida Football: Dreams come true

Taylor Spierto is a redshirt sophomore out of Franklin, TN. The 6’0” and 205-pound wide receiver has appeared in all seven games this season, mostly on special teams.

He did have a catch against McNeese State and a catch against Vanderbilt.

After a stint with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Keenan Landry came to the Gators as a preferred walk-on.

The 6’1” and 305 pound defensive lineman has only appeared in one game this season.

With Florida football having 83 guys on scholarship, two short of the 85 a team is allowed to distribute, Napier opted to award both players after practice.

Awarding scholarships to walk-ons is not exclusive to the Gators, but it is a reminder that when Napier talked about needing to build a solid foundation, these are the types of players he is bringing up in his program. Oftentimes times, walk-ons don’t get scholarships out the gate because they are missing the height or weight attributes that coaches initially look for.

But their willingness to work hard and push everyone else in the program helps keep the second-string guys from getting complacent, which in turn helps keep the first-string guys from getting complacent.

Florida is off this week and has been feeling the good vibes from their win over South Carolina, so promoting two players to the main roster was a great way to keep the vibes going heading into Georgia next week.