Walk-ons a fine fit

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."