New NCAA roster rules could jeopardize Nebraska’s beloved walk-on program

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — All Husker sports, and all schools across the country, could be downsizing soon.

For football, the NCAA is limiting rosters to 105 players under a proposed settlement to an antitrust lawsuit that’s working its way through the courts.

There are currently 125 players on the Huskers’ roster, including 40 walk-ons.

This past Saturday, most of the 64 players who participated in the scrimmage were walk-ons.

The walk-on program has helped countless homegrown Huskers fulfill a dream, but now its future is in doubt.

“It’s definitely going to hurt the kids, limiting opportunities to play at a high level,” said James Thompson, Lincoln North Star High School’s head football coach. “But it could lead to more parity.”

Thompson, who is also the assistant activities director, feels this could also make college recruiters more selective in their evaluation process.

“What I’ve seen at the Power 4 level is college recruiters are looking for guys that project to be NFL-quality players,” he said. “They’re really big on measurables. They have to be more selective in who they’re offering those opportunities to.”

On top of the roster limit being reduced to 105, the NCAA plans to raise the scholarship player limit to that same number.

That means the traditional walk-on role could be removed from college sports completely.

Thompson said the talent level will increase across all competition levels.

“I think it will trickle down,” Thompson said when talking about the talent. “You’ll have better players at the D-1 level, FCS level and the NAIA level.”

Before the judge approves this settlement, she wants to see current players grandfathered in.

So the change will likely take place gradually.