One Michigan Player Won Yesterday: Walk-On Jordan Kovacs

A Walk-On Athlete: A student who was not recruited, but earns a sport on a varsity team by trying out. Some walk-ons may eventually earn a scholarship.

Jordan Kovacs, a redshirt freshman from Curtice, Ohio, lead the Wolverines in tackles, 17, TFL, 2.5, and had a forced fumble against Michigan State from his safety position. It's never good when a safety leads the defense in tackles, but it's good to see a walk-on stepping up to the plate and playing on the first-team defense.

Kovacs' father, Louis, was a member of the Wolverines in the 80's and as told by Andy Staples of SI.com, he too was a walk-on. His article highlights the ups and downs of Kovacs getting on the field at Michigan this fall. 

Rich Rodriguez has an affinity for walk-ons; he was one at West Virginia.

So when the team held open tryouts last year, Kovacs showed up and wowed the coaches. He wowed them again this summer after his knee surgery.

It's not often that a walk-on player plays so extensively, but with the injury to Mike Williams, Kovacs has filled in very nicely. In five games, Kovacs has totaled 31 tackles and four TFL's. With the game he played yesterday, he ranks third on the team in tackles and TFL. Not bad for a walk-on.

He never thought he would play, but when the coaches put him in, he was ready.

Coach Rodriguez will tell those that listen "the best guys play, whether you come out with a four-star or five-star ranking, or whether you're a school-start or tryout walk-on guy, if you're good enough and you prove yourself, you'll play."

That may be the case, but one team-mates injury has proven another players ability. Kovacs will probably get his time cut when Williams is back, but not without a fight.

At Michigan, 30 percent of the roster is preferred walk-ons and walk-ons. With scholarships limited to 85, Coach Rodriguez is looking to expand walk-on participation and get the number of players up to 130.

His roster is currently at 122 players.

Coach explains the premise of expanding the walk-on program from preferred walk-ons to open tryouts for the students, "It helps with depth, but it also creates a level of competitiveness and openness in your players' minds as far as the best guys play, I like winning too much not play the best guys. We all do."

Most walk-ons participate on the scout team, only a handful play on special team, and of that handful a few may win a scholarship for their hard work.

Jon Conover was a walk-on who recently received a scholarship.

Before the 2009 season, the Coach had a dinner for the seniors at his home. Afterwards he told Conover of his scholarship. Conover was elated, as were his parents.

Coach Rodriguez loves it when he can offer a scholarship to a walk-on. After he told Conover about his scholarship, he told his wife, "You could tell it was one of his goals. It doesn't get any better than that in coaching."

It goes to show you that through hard work and determination, anything is possible. 

Photo Credit: UM Photo Service via Andy Staples Blog on SI.com