I think student-athletes need to be reminded of the benefits of walking-on when they're not recruited. Not only could they earn the opportunity to play in the big game, but they also can continue to play the game they love, and earn a college degree along the way.

I think that walk-on players for college teams will always have a part on the team. They are trying out for that team for a reason, not just because they have to, but because they want to be part of the team. When it comes down to a walk-on and a recruit at the right time a walk-on is going to have the heart to show what they can do in a deep pressure situation.

As we see in this situation, walk-ons are key ingredients to becoming a successful team. Sometimes as a coach, we need to realize that although these players didn't get the opportunity to get recruited, they still deserve a chance to compete.

I feel walk-on players are a must for every team. They don't cost the team anything but they offer a great deal. They're great training partners because they're always going to work hard to show they deserve to be there. They also give a challenge to the scholarship players to motivate them to do their best so they don't lose their spot. And in some cases walk-on players do have more heart because they're there on their own free will.

I feel young athletes who walk on, especially to a big university, are a must for a team. They, like in this case give a team depth in case of an emergency, plus they are useful for practice, playing against somebody. And as for the walk on himself stepping in a game especially one like this can be a huge confidence builder, finally being able to prove that your hard work really pays off.

I agree completely that college walk-ons can be extremely important to college sports. Many times there are very good recruits that don't get very much attention from a school they would like to go to. Therefore, they may try to walk-on to that team. I am a walk-on on the men's soccer team. I was recruited from some schools, but I wanted to attend the institution I am currently at. A chose to come here to walk-on, made the team, and made an impact. Walk-on's are very important, and in this case in this article, they help win championships.

I think it's great that every now and then a story or an article like this comes out that reminds people of the backup players. I don't think that Walk-On's really get the respect they deserve, they still go through the gruling practices, training, and games. Their job in helping the team may be coming in when the starters are tired or even playing the starters hard during practices to get them ready for games. I find it sad to hear some college coaches say they don't have time for their Walk-On's. I think that is very shallow and they don't appreciate what they do for the team. But either way, It's cool to see a "Walk-On" come through in one of the most important games of the year for the Orange.

I agree that walk ons are an important part of a college team and they are always overlooked. Coaches don't usually care about walk ons because they are not players they recruited and they aren't recieving and scholorship money so they are looked at as less important. There are probably more cases like this one where an athlete has the talent to play in college and would have been playing for a team but got injured in high school. Im sure many high school athletes have gotten injured at a bad time in their career and possibly lost a scholorship over it. This is a very unfortunate thing. I do not think that coaches will change how they think about walk ons unless someone walks on and becomes an absolute star.

Walk-ons are really a hit or miss in collegiate athletics. As in this instance, the athlete has extraordinary talents, however has been plagued by injury time and time again. This can be the case with walk-on athletes, and many times they can be diamonds in the rough if they heal back to 100%.

I think it's great to see, in a pressure-packed situation like last week's game, that a walk-on can step in and show the energy that the Syracuse team needed in that 5th and 6th overtime. As a life-long SU fan, I was thrilled to see a kid, like Thomas (who works hard day-in and day-out), and gets his chance to help his team out when they are in need of it most.

One of the best games I've ever seen and one of the best observations written about walk-on athletes that I've ever seen. Wish I would have know that about Justin Thomas when I was watching the game! They need to hire you guys at ESPN to give these kinds of stories during the game. Great piece

I completely agree that walk ons matter. They may not be your best athlete on the team but in some cases they can make a huge difference to your team. Sometimes athletes get injured at a bad time in high school and this eliminates their chance of getting a scholarship. They may have the talent to recieve a scholarship but they got hurt at a bad time. In a case like this, a team may be able to get a great player for a free year or more.

Walk-on athletes play a very unique role, because most teams do not take too many chances with walk-ons. The walk-on athlete has many obstacles to overcome, like supporting himself with food money and housing expenses until he gets on scholarship. This creates a disciplined and hardworking athlete, whom often become the backbone of the team.