CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney expressed concerns over the potential increase in the NCAA football scholarship limit during the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte. A proposal currently under consideration would raise the scholarship cap to over 100 players, a change Swinney believes could have significant unintended consequences.
“There’s not many coaches that want 105 scholarships. We want to keep our walk-ons. It’s hard to manage that many guys,” Swinney said. “When you have that many guys on scholarship, you think you got transfers now, wait till that number gets there.”
Swinney attributed the proposal to a recent lawsuit settlement, noting that the settlement inadvertently suggests that whatever the roster size, all players would need to be on scholarship. This shift, he argued, would likely lead to the elimination of walk-ons, a development he described as "really sad."
Swinney highlighted the crucial role walk-ons play in college football, contrasting it with the NFL’s flexibility. “In college, you can’t grab a guy out of algebra class in the middle of the season and bring him over here and plug him in,” Swinney explained. “Whatever you start with, it dwindles.”
The Clemson coach underscored the logistical challenges of operating with a larger roster. The limitations of practice time and the need for efficient use of that time make walk-ons essential for providing necessary practice looks. Swinney pointed out that some teams might not have been able to participate in bowl games last year if this rule had been in effect due to a lack of available players.
“We’re going to play more games than we’ve ever played, practice more than we ever played, finish longer than we ever played, and have the smallest roster we’ve ever had,” Swinney remarked, expressing his frustration over the possible rule change.
Despite the potential for additional scholarships, Swinney emphasized that the dynamics of managing a college football team would become more complex. Coaches may take more developmental players or transfers from various levels, but the impact on walk-ons remains a primary concern.
“The walk-on program is what disappoints me the most,” Swinney said. “Kids that just want to be a part of it, that want to come help you practice in practice. It saddens me that that is probably going to go away.”
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