College football's 10 most memorable walk-ons of all-time, ranked (2024)

Clay Matthews first joined a loaded roster at USC in 2004 as a walk-on before redshirting and playing five years in the Pac-10. Matthews' best campaign was his last with the Trojans, ultimately leading to a first-round selection by the Green Bay Packers. In 2008, Matthews collected 57 tacklesand 4.5 sacks. He was known for being a stealer of souls on special teams as USC's most-decorated gunner during his career in Los Angeles. Matthews won three Rose Bowls at USC and was a six-time Pro Bowl pass rusher in the NFL.

Carl Nassib enjoyed arguably the best individual season ever for a former walk-on defender in 2015, collecting several awards after registering 19.5 tackles for losses, 15.5 sacks and six forced fumbles as one of the nastiest edge rushers in the country. Nassib's breakout performance as the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year led to a third-round selection in the NFL Draft the following spring. Nassib did not play his first two years in Happy Valley, but stuck things out and began making an impact in 2013.

A former tight end at Central Michigan, J.J. Watt walked on at Wisconsin and starred along the defensive front before he became one of the NFL's premiere pass rushers over a lengthy (and dominant) career. A Class of 2023 Wisconsin Hall of Famer, Watt started both years he played for the Badgers and accumulated 36.5 tackles for losses, 11.5 sacks and 106 tackles over 26 games in the Big Ten. A future first-round pick, Watt was a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-Pro before retiring in 2023.

Over thefirst two seasons for Hunter Renfrow at Clemson, he torched Alabama. Entering the 2015 national championship game, Renfrow was a little-known redshirt freshman. His 11 catches between the Orange Bowl (semifinal) and the national title game accounted for 33% of his production for the entire season, 247Sports' Chris Hummer noted in a previous story. His two touchdowns against Alabama in the finale were a precursor to a breakout year, which once again ended with a multi-touchdown game against the Crimson Tide in another national title game showdown, including the game-winning score from Deshaun Watson in the final seconds. Renfrow played the Crimson Tide twice more during his career, but did not register a touchdown. Renfrow caught 149 passes at Clemson for 1,741 yards and 10 scores.

Mike Hass averaged 17.8 yards per catch career over several seasons with the Beavers, which still stands as one of the most impressive feats in program history. He tallied 86 catches for 1,379 yards as a second-year starter in 2004 before notching 90 receptions for 1,532 yards the following year. Over 36 career games, Hass reached the end zone 20 times. He was later drafted in the sixth round by the New Orleans Saints in 2016. Hass was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.He's a two-time All-American and won the Biletnikoff in 2005.

Most-oft known for his NFL stardom as Aaron Rodgers' go-to threat with the Green Bay Packers, Jordy Nelson first starred at Kansas State as an underrated pass-catcher whose best season came in 2007 when he nearly won the Biletnikoff after hauling in 122 receptions for 1,606 yards and 11 touchdowns. Nelson had a couple passing touchdowns and punt return scores that season, too. Those numbers were outrageous for a player who originally began his career as a defensive back before former Kansas State coach Bill Snyder noticed his speed and athleticism during practice and asked him to move to wideout.

One of the most electrifying players in Miami football history, Santana Moss began his career as a walk-on in 1997 before quickly assuming the role of go-to threat in the Hurricanes' passing game and on special teams. The future first-round pick is a member of Miami's Hall of Fame andis the school's career leader in all-purpose yards (4,402 yards), receiving yards (2,546), punt return yards (1,196) and career punts returned for touchdowns (six). Moss led college football with four punts returned for touchdowns his senior season (2000).

Jim Leonhard was a ballhawk at safety despite being under 5-foot-9 for the Badgers. He led the country with 11 interceptions and a conference-high 25 pass breakups in 2002 as a sophom*ore, more than earning his scholarship after walking on previously. Leonhard was a three-time All-American with the Badgers. After his playing days in Madison, Leonhard became one of the nation's top assistants. Leonhard was reportedly a leading candidate in Michigan State's coaching search earlier last fall before the Spartans hired Oregon State'sJonathan Smithafter the firing ofMel Tucker. Leonhard was Wisconsin's defensive coordinator from 2017 through the 2022 season, earning finalist honors for the Broyles Award— given to the nation's top assistant— in his first season as the leader of the Badgers' defense.

Baker Mayfield began his college career as a walk-on at Texas Tech. But before it was said and done, he had become one of the best college football players of his generation. In Mayfield's Heisman season of 2017, he led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff where OU faced off against Georgia from the Rose Bowl. And while Mayfield's college days ended that day, it took double overtime. Georgia outlasted OU, 54-48, which capped an amazing season from the Sooners quarterback. Mayfield completed 70.5% of his passes for 43 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also added five rushing touchdowns. Mayfield later became the No. 1 overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The only two-time national champion walk-on quarterback in college football history, Stetson Bennett IV forever etched his name in Georgia lore over the final two seasons of his career with a pair of incredible showings. Bennett threw 52 touchdown passes and ran for 11 more over 29 starts to end his tenure as one of the most decorated players in program history. Over four College Football Playoff games, Bennett accounted for 15 touchdowns, including six in his final appearance — a 65-7 beatdown of TCU in the national championship. Bennett was never supposed to be one of the SEC's greatest players of all-time, but that's a testament to his development and ability as a gamer.