UNT Walk-Ons Continue Making The Most Of Their Opportunities

[Harry]

North Texas Walk-Ons Continue Making The Most Of Their Opportunities

Inside the North Texas football offices, the hallways are decorated with pictures of big hits, big plays and special players. Zach Orr, Brandin Byrd, Derek Thompson and other highly-decorated players and highly-sought recruits. When you wind your way around the hallway before heading out, there is a wall with 18 mug shots in a line.

This group of 18 players isn't your usual lineup. It's guys who were told out of high school they were not good enough to play FBS football. It's the 18 players that have earned scholarships at North Texas since Dan McCarney has been the head coach, and it's a source of immense pride for McCarney and for every player that has earned their way onto the roster the hard way.

You're Too Slow

Rivals.com is the clearinghouse for recruiting gurus and fans alike. If you looked up Darnell Smith in 2009, all you would have seen was a name and a hometown. He received little or no interest from FBS schools, so he went the junior college route, thinking it would boost his stock for the following years. However, that didn't go as planned at his first stop, Trinity Valley.

"You're too slow," Smith said of what he heard from his coach at Trinity Valley in his freshman year.

A year later, Smith and a friend decided to head to Iowa, with no promise of a scholarship. Smith tried out and walked on at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa. He made the team, ending the year with 34 catches and 507 yards. Through another friend, Smith got in contact with North Texas offensive line coach Mike Simmonds. The rest is walk-on history.

"It's been an exciting journey, and I feel like I have a lot more to do to prove myself to people," Smith said. "I want to do my part and help this team, because this team is my family."

Despite not making a start in 2012, he made a significant impact last season and enters 2013 as the Mean Green's leading returning receiver with 28 catches and 379 yards.

Read more and watch videos: http://www.meangreensports.com/provingthemwrong.html

[Wag Tag]

This is great, great ,great. The story is awesome! Thank you very much for sharing your stories. I know you are very proud of yourself,which is one of the best feelings in the world!

I am very proud of my University. University of North Texas!

[Chief Rising Eagle]

Good stuff. "Their is no ceiling on effort or competitiveness."- McCarney. True dat.