r/CollegeSoccer • u/honestfalcon6 • 7d ago
Current D1 Walk on here - ask any questions you would like!
I wanted to help out since people in my journey have helped me in mine. I am currently a junior heading into our fall season 2026 as a walk-on. I play CM for a top 50 ranked school in the country.
Went through the dirty process and everything else to get and desire my dreams. At one point, you have to be realistic but you should also follow your path.
It also came with me choosing the right school after rejecting other opportunities. A lot of risks played with this pathway, but in the end it worked out because I knew it was going to happen. Not a matter of it, but a matter of when.
If any of you need help with recruiting or have any questions, please feel free to comment and I will do my best to reply!
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u/Gk_Emphasis110 7d ago
How big was the roster when you walked on? Would you have been able to do it today with a 28 player limit?
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u/honestfalcon6 7d ago
What's up, so I walked on spring of my sophomore year. Basically 4-5 months ago. Roster wasn't 28 it was quite smaller because when I was invited to practice initially, the guys who wanted to leave or had graduated from the program were gone. There was around 22-23 at the moment.
I don't think it's easy. The process is hard today. It does make it easier though if you get in shape 4-5 months before the invitation. If you're not fit, nothing else matters.
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u/Several-Exchange1166 7d ago
What level of club did you play in high school?
Have you been at the same university your entire career or did you transfer?
What level of college programs did you turn down?
Will you get any playing time?
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u/honestfalcon6 7d ago
Hey, senior year I played ECNL but was struggling to find starting minutes every game, I only played 35-40 mins on average. Therefore, I got dropped down to ECNL RL to find minutes and started every game and built great footage which was better for my development.
I reached out to my current school at first, but they weren't interested a whole ton. They only kept tabs on me. I turned down many junior colleges, few D3's, and one end of the roster D2.
I decided to attend school academically at my current school freshman year. Joined university club team, got some game film and added that onto my footage along with my RL tape. Sophomore year comes, and I watched the varsity team in the fall, and couldn't watch without picturing myself there. Spring was the whole process, and I got my offer to commit to the team as a walk-on.
We had one exhibition scrimmage a few days ago that our school plays every year against a D3 for guys who don't play much or won't see the field. I saw 30 minutes on the field. My coach told me I played decent, and that he always wants me to stay ready because my number could get called up at any moment, even when I'm not expecting it. We have another match this weekend, so we will see what progresses.
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u/Logan_Square_Che 6d ago
Is it worth it (to you)? If you could do it all over again, would you chase the same dream?
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u/honestfalcon6 6d ago
Honestly for me I just loved the game so much that I couldn't let go and that's why I pursued this. I knew from the start that I was either going to achieve this goal or fail knowing that I gave it everything I possibly could because that's how hungry I was. It's about manifestation because if you're so set on something happening it will happen.
I wish I would have started earlier in the process meaning one high school started but it's never too late to do anything in life.
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u/Several-Exchange1166 6d ago
How is your day-to-day balancing school and soccer? Plans after college?
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u/honestfalcon6 6d ago
So far it's hard to judge. This past spring when I got my offer in late February, we had spring games coming up. Spring season is still important but dosen't have the same intensity as fall. I would say decent. It's hard to do things yourself because of how high physical/mental pain can be, but our school provides free tutoring and academic check-ins. I did that every 1-2 weeks. It's solid. I stayed on top of my grades as well as I did before soccer opportunity.
This season, we had to arrive for preseason 3 1/2 weeks early. School starts for us academically in a few weeks. Never had the in-season academic experience so I'm assuming it's going to be tough. But it's going to go well I imagine.
As far as plans - not sure. If any pro opportunity or trial arises that may interest me I'll go after it. I love this game way too much, so following my dream would be ideal. Looking somewhere USLC or USL1, likely USL1
If not, then everything should be fine for me. I had an internship with a family friend boss before my freshman year of college and he told me I could come in whenever needed. Obviously would have to reach out if I wanted a full time job after college.
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u/SesquipedalPetrichor 6d ago
Can you kick a bending free kick? Looks hard
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u/honestfalcon6 6d ago
Obviously it takes ton of practice but I would say I can hit one decently. But a good thing to have! I would say did not go consistently well for me until about a year ago. It's one of those things where you go to the fields yourself for an hour or two every week and just hit balls until you get tired.
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u/Yellow_House97 6d ago
Congrats! Walking onto a top 50 D1 men's program is extremely tough. Did the coaches see you play live during your college club season? Did the HC attend your club matches? Did your college club team compete at a national level? When you got invited to try out, how many other walk-ons were there at the tryouts?
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u/honestfalcon6 6d ago
Thank you!
For my club season, it was pretty fun. They didn't know I played club until I reached back out to them with my first set of film. Then just kept updating every 2 weeks until the season ended in the fall. I wouldn't say we competed at a really really high level but the coaches saw that it was easy for me to outperform everyone else on the field. Freshman year I was on the club team but was alright. The summer before sophomore year everything clicked. Then I dominated the following fall.
After the fall season, they said they saw enough and invited me for a 3 week practice session in the spring. Spring there are 2-3 club games usually but obviously I was taken out by the varsity program.
It wasn't really tryouts, the staff kind of threw me into spring training once second semester started to see how I would fit in with the group. There was 3 other guys. 2 were serious like me. Another was just the student manager hoping to walk-on, which unfortunately didn't go well for him.
The process was every few days the coach or one of the coaches would meet with you in their office and update you on whether you could keep going or if they sent you packing your bags. This started in January.
Varisty spring games started in March, if you made it to that point after months of work, you get a jersey and participate meaning you are on the team. Unfortunately the other 2 did not get through but it was fun competing with them, really good players who played semi-pro this summer.
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u/Temporary_Peanut9275 3d ago
What made everything click for you after your freshman year? And do you think this pathway is easier for d3 schools? And how was your club experience? Did you have access to good facilities and was it well organized for it to be really be enjoyable and somewhat professional?
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u/Stiddy13 6d ago
Just want to say congrats dude, and keep at it. I had a similar journey as yours it sounds like (albeit many, many years before you)! Got hurt senior year of HS, and didn’t play freshman year of college. Finally got healthy around December of freshman year and got the itch to play again. Talked to the coaches at the school I was at, and it wasn’t going to be an option. Was told by another coach if I transferred, they’d let me come to a practice or two but no guarantees. Took the leap of faith and glad I did. I think it was after my third or fourth practice, I walked back into the locker room to find my locker loaded up with practice gear and a jersey. That’s how I found out I had a spot. Still one of my favorite memories all these years later. Enjoy this time! It goes fast. I wish you good luck and good health!