There are also some limitations that the NCAA puts on the number of players a school can allow full participation in team activities, etc. I am running strictly from memory but I think the number is 105. The players in this number, scholly or not, are allowed to participate fully in all team functions such as practices, official workout and conditioning, etc. players over this number are limited in many regards. This has not effected CU in the past as our numbers have not been this high but at places like Nebraska, Texas, some of the SEC schools, etc. they may have a number of walk-on players who are not allowed to start practice until a later date than the rest of the team, are limited in off-season contact with the S&C coach, may not participate in team meals, etc.
A prefered walk-on may be a part of and participate in any team activity as a full part of the team without paying for it unless it is considered a "benefit" such as training table, etc.
In this situation as an example, if a team goes to a bowl, the prefered walk-ons may recieve the bowl souveniers and participate in team bowl activities, the non-prefered may not.
All of this aside, for a school like CU it means that the player has been invited to participate with a promise of an opportunity to prove himself and earn a scholly, a non-prefered is essentially a kid who shows up and ask for a chance to make the team without having been invited and the coaches give him this opportunity (which they don't have to.) I think that CU actually has a try-out camp for these guys and selects a few each year to help provide bodies for the scout team.
In very rare instances a non-preffered will show enough ability to be moved up in status to preffered or even be given a scholly, rare enough that I can't think of any names right now.
A prefered walk-on may be a part of and participate in any team activity as a full part of the team without paying for it unless it is considered a "benefit" such as training table, etc.
In this situation as an example, if a team goes to a bowl, the prefered walk-ons may recieve the bowl souveniers and participate in team bowl activities, the non-prefered may not.
All of this aside, for a school like CU it means that the player has been invited to participate with a promise of an opportunity to prove himself and earn a scholly, a non-prefered is essentially a kid who shows up and ask for a chance to make the team without having been invited and the coaches give him this opportunity (which they don't have to.) I think that CU actually has a try-out camp for these guys and selects a few each year to help provide bodies for the scout team.
In very rare instances a non-preffered will show enough ability to be moved up in status to preffered or even be given a scholly, rare enough that I can't think of any names right now.
