Most of the headlines for this year's undefeated Utah football team go to guys like Alex Smith, Paris Warren and Morgan Scalley. And with good reason.
Smith is having a marvelous season, one that has put him on several national Heisman Trophy lists. Warren is 25th in the nation in receptions and has scored 11 touchdowns. Scalley is fifth in the nation in interceptions and has returned a kickoff and a fumble for touchdowns this year.
Ute coach Urban Meyer acknowledges the efforts of his top players, but he's just as complimentary about the likes of Grady Marshall, Blake Burdette, John Madsen, Casey Evans, Kite Afeaki, David Carroll and Billy Kinsey.
"They're very responsible for winning games, each in their own way," Meyer said. "They're probably more valuable for us than in other programs."
Meyer was a little surprised when reminded that each of the aforementioned players is a walk-on from Utah high schools.
"That's something unique to Utah," Meyer said. "Other programs aren't like that. I think our walk-on situation is as good as there is."
Meyer gives a couple of reasons his team uses so many home-grown walk-ons. He said assistants Kyle Whittingham and Gary Andersen, both Utah natives, do a great job of pinpointing potential walk-ons from the state. He also says the affordability of the school helps keep players close to home.
"When I was at Notre Dame, it cost $38,000 to go to school," Meyer said. "So not many kids walked on."
Meyer said a couple of days ago he was walking with Burdette to an appearance on the weekly television program and Burdette told him he always dreamed of playing for the U.
Burdette wasn't recruited by Utah but received encouragement from his former rugby teammate Scalley to try out for the team.
"I always wanted to play football for the University of Utah," Burdette said. "My dad brought us to the games here ever since I can remember. I wanted to keep living my dream."
Although players like Burdette truly walked on, many of the walk-ons were recruited by Ute coaches.
"We actively recruit walk-ons," said Meyer. "Kids like Dave Revill (Alta High, who graduated last year) who may be an inch shorter or a step slow out of high school and won't get recruited by big schools — we try to get guys like that to walk on. We're looking at a dozen right now."
Because of injuries, redshirts and other factors, the Utes have just 56 available scholarship players, according to Meyer. He said seven of those players are former walk-ons who have earned scholarships.
Marshall (Skyline), Madsen (Hunter) and Burdette (Olympus) have all earned scholarships and Evans (Olympus) and Afeaki (West) will before long, said Meyer. Kinsey (Morgan), one of three players who made the team as the "Utah Man" this year, may eventually earn a scholarship also. Carroll (Bountiful) will have to wait a couple of years since he is going on an LDS mission in January.
Other walk-ons from Utah who have contributed in games this year include tight end Jon Clark (Viewmont), wide receiver Derrek Richards (American Fork), defensive end Nik Sonntag (Olympus), linebacker Dmitry Preobrazhensky (Olympus), kicker Dan Beardall (American Fork) and quarterbacks Adam Madsen (Uintah) and Brigham Au (Northridge).
Besides all the in-state players, other walk-ons on the Ute team include starting wide receiver Travis LaTendresse; placekicker Brian Borreson, a regular for most of three seasons before getting injured in the middle of this season; and long snapper, backup defensive lineman Tevita Kemoeatu and long snapper Brady Parkhurst.
LaTendresse and Borreson are from California and Kemoeatu and Parkhurst are from Hawaii.
"It's a guessing game and there's a handful who don't make it," said Meyer. "But we work at getting quality walk-ons."
IMPACT PLAYERS
A look at Utah's walk-ons who are making contributions this year:
Blake Burdette, Olympus, 1998 — Former rugby player blocked punt against SDSU and has caught 3 passes as a tight end.
Grady Marshall, Skyline, 1999 — Special teams expert has blocked 3 punts and made 11 tackles.
Kite Afeaki, West, 2000 — Top backup on defensive line has 11 tackles and 2 pass breakups.
John Madsen, Hunter, 2001 — Lanky receiver has caught 21 passes for 322 yards and 3 TDs.
Casey Evans, Olympus, 2002 — No. 31 has 31 tackles on the season, ninth best on the team as part-time starter in secondary.
Billy Kinsey, Morgan, 2002 — Designated first-string "Utah Man" has made 10 tackles and blocked a kick.
David Carroll, Bountiful, 2004 — Utes' starting placekicker for past 3 games has made 26 of 26 PATs and 3 of 3 field goals.
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