That term “preferred walk-on” actually means nothing more than whatever that coaching staff intends it to mean. At one university, a preferred walk-on may be guaranteed a spot on their roster, while at another university, it may only mean that they don’t have to go through an open tryout to join full-squad practice sessions.
What is more important for a preferred walk-on in certain sports is whether they are considered “recruited” to their university team. This can be an important factor in their opportunity to be immediately eligible if they decide to transfer after a year or two to a Division I program.
For certain sports, it can mean the difference between being immediately eligible for competition and a scholarship at their new university, or serving a “year in residence” before they can compete.
If your athlete has been offered a preferred walk-on status at either an NCAA or NAIA school, and you have questions about what it means and how that could negatively impact a potential transfer opportunity, contact us at rick@informedathlete.com, or call 913-766-1235.