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Perhaps you have seen the inspiring movie Rudy, where a marginally talented football player successfully makes the Notre Dame football team as a walk-on.
The Oregon Ducks football team has its own version of Rudy with former walk-on linebacker Riley Showalter.
Showalter grew up cheering for the Ducks as a kid. Though he excelled at football at a local Portland High School, his football scholarships came only from small schools.
Determined to play at the for the Ducks at the Division I level, he lobbied the coaches to let him walk on. He successfully made the team.
As a fourth year junior(he had a redshirt year) the coaches awarded him a full athletic scholarship. They note that Showalter's strongest assets are his work ethic and his intelligence. He is one of the few linebackers on the team who has learned all three linebacker positions.
Showalter is a true "student athlete" as he earned his degree in business administration in June. Last season, he also earned academic all-conference awards.
Here is more of his story:
The Oregon Ducks football team has its own version of Rudy with former walk-on linebacker Riley Showalter.
Showalter grew up cheering for the Ducks as a kid. Though he excelled at football at a local Portland High School, his football scholarships came only from small schools.
Determined to play at the for the Ducks at the Division I level, he lobbied the coaches to let him walk on. He successfully made the team.
As a fourth year junior(he had a redshirt year) the coaches awarded him a full athletic scholarship. They note that Showalter's strongest assets are his work ethic and his intelligence. He is one of the few linebackers on the team who has learned all three linebacker positions.
Showalter is a true "student athlete" as he earned his degree in business administration in June. Last season, he also earned academic all-conference awards.
Here is more of his story:
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