Michigan football team adds long-snapper Tyler Tokarsky as preferred walk-on
The Michigan football team has added a player for the third consecutive day -- only this one will be on campus this fall.
Fenton High School long-snapper Tyler Tokarsky tweeted Monday afternoon he will play for the Wolverines. He will join the team this fall as a preferred walk-on.
"Gonna be playin football at the University of Michigan for the next 5 years!!!! IMMA WOLVERINE!!!!!!" he tweeted.
Tokarski had a 100-percent snap rate his final two years at Fenton, according to his highlight tape. He also was the long-snapping champion at last year's Kornblue Kicking Fab50 Fall Challenge in Miami, Fla.
Michigan added eight players to its 2013 class during the weekend. Tokarsky's addition will not affect that class, since he will not be under scholarship.
A preferred walk-on is a player who is guaranteed a spot on the team, but does not occupy a scholarship. It's possible he can earn a scholarship down the road, although it's rare and not retroactive.
Comments
81wolverine
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 6:20 p.m.
This is good news I'd say. LS is a position all the fans take for granted, but not having someone who can do this job consistently well can be disastrous. It would be nice if the article had a little more info. on Tyler: height, weight, any all-conference honors, etc.
chiro19
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
I never realized how fun it could be watching a guy snap the ball over and over again for 2 and 1/2 minutes! HaHa it would suck to be the longsnapper evaluater of a scouting company! Go Blue!!!
15crown00
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 6:05 a.m.
What exactly is a "preferred walk-on"?
Kyle Meinke
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 4:02 p.m.
15crown, Scott is right. I explained it more fully in the first comment thread, and I also added info into the story. Hope this helps.
Scott
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 3:25 p.m.
They are guaranteed a spot on the team but they do not receive a scholarship.
Scott
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 5:07 a.m.
I'm having deja vous. Didn't they give another long snapper preferred walk on status? He was tall (6'3) and really thin (160lbs).
7718
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 12:53 a.m.
This makes the headlines for Michigan football?! Yikes.
Scott
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 5:05 a.m.
See a few balls fly over the head of the punter and you'd change your opinion. It's a small thing but very important.
Jarhead
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 4:15 a.m.
I don't know if you noticed but on the extra-point and field goal snaps, the laces came up perfect every time.
Jarhead
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 4:13 a.m.
Yes, why not?
Terry Star21
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 11:44 p.m.
Here you go, a win/win for everyone; <a href="http://recruiting-101.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-walk-on-and-a-preferred-walk-on/" rel='nofollow'>http://recruiting-101.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-walk-on-and-a-preferred-walk-on/</a>
Terry Star21
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 5:12 a.m.
And 100% for his final two years in HS....unheard of, too cool.
BornInA2
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 10:29 p.m.
More good news. Thanks for the update. It would be really nice if this article explained what a 'preferred walk-on' is.
Kyle Meinke
Tue, Feb 21, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.
BorninA2, sorry, I should have included that in the story. ... But as Terry Star's link shows, a preferred walk-on is someone who is guaranteed a spot on the team, but does not occupy a scholarship. The player pays his own way. In some cases, the player could get a scholarship down the road, but it's rare.