Unranked Checkup: Former walk-on LBs lighting it up
Every Friday during the football season, we take a look back at some players who are performing well in either college football or the NFL despite the fact that they were unrated as high school prospects. This week we take a look at three former walk-on linebackers who played a big role in their teams' victories last weekend.
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As a recruit: A versatile athlete out of New Smyrna Beach High School in Florida, Holcomb was a solid high school player who had a good senior year, earning second team all-county honors. He never really saw a whole lot of action on the recruiting trail, with mostly FCS programs pursuing him. But rather than accept a scholarship at a lower level, Holcomb elected to walk on at North Carolina, where he joined the team for the 2014 season.
What he did this week: Holcomb has worked his way from a 190-pound high school prospect into the 225-pound leader of the North Carolina defense. After being primarily a special teams player in 2015, he started every game in 2016 and led the Tar Heels in tackles with 115. This season, Holcomb has at least four tackles in every game and in last week’s victory over Pittsburgh, he led the team with nine. Holcomb will finish with more than 100 tackles for the second straight year and with another year of eligibility to improve his stock he might just be another walk-on-to-NFL success story.
As a recruit: Vander Esch played eight-man football in Idaho’s smallest classification so it’s not surprising that he didn’t get many looks from colleges despite a standout career as both a quarterback and a linebacker. A multi-sport star, Vander Esch didn’t receive any major scholarship offers but did get an opportunity to walk on at Boise State and he joined the team in 2014.
What he did this week: Vander Esch has put on nearly 40 pounds since arriving on campus at Boise and after battling injuries during various times his first two seasons he has developed into a star as a redshirt junior. In Saturday’s barnburner victory over Colorado State, Vander Esch racked up 13 total tackles, including one for loss while also breaking up one pass. The game was just part of what has been a standout year for Vander Esch, who leads the Broncos in tackles with 99 and also has three sacks and three forced fumbles. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound prospect has NFL aspirations and with the season he’s having, he might soon be on the mind of NFL scouts.
As a recruit: Dawson had a solid high school career, putting up impressive numbers and also earning his share of local accolades. But his accomplishments never quite caught the eye of college coaches and he never received an FBS offer. Dawson elected to bet on himself and accepted an opportunity to walk on at Wake Forest. He joined the team prior to the 2013 season.
What he did this week: After redshirting his first year on campus, Dawson worked his way into a reserve role by the 2014 season. After improving his production every year from 2014-16, Dawson played his way into an opportunity this fall and hasn’t disappointed. In Saturday’s victory over Syracuse, Dawson came up big, recording six tackles (all solo) and one sack. It was just another solid game in a season of them for Dawson, who leads the team in total tackles with 70 and tackles for loss with nine. Dawson’s story of an in-state player becoming a star in his senior season is one of the best in college football this season.
