Frequently asked question
Why I Chose to Walk On at Rice
As a walk-on at Rice University, I often get asked by friends, teammates, and even family:
“Why did you choose to walk on at Rice?”
This question follows me everywhere, even into my sophomore year. The curiosity is understandable. Walking on to a football team at any university is a big commitment, and Rice isn’t exactly the most typical destination of choice for many high school athletes. Whenever I get asked this, it forces me to reflect on my decision two years ago, which has become a massive part of my identity. I’ve thought about this question so many times that I’ve realized there are two parts to the answer: why I could have chosen not to walk on and why I ultimately did.
Why I Could Have Chosen Not to Walk On
There were plenty of reasons not to walk on at Rice, and these reasons made the decision incredibly difficult. Rice is located in Houston, Texas, while I was born and raised in Southern California. Moving halfway across the country was a big deal, especially since I’ve always been close to my family. Growing up, I pictured attending college with my friends and staying near home. The idea of being that far away was a significant downside.
Honestly, I also didn’t have the most positive perception of Texas. I’d grown up with many preconceived notions about the state, influenced by the politics and culture I was familiar with in California. In my head, I imagined that Texas wouldn’t be fun, and I worried it wouldn’t be the right fit for me socially or academically. This made Rice seem even more distant, not just physically but culturally.
Another factor that made the decision harder was the financial cost of attending Rice. Rice University is known for its prestigious academics, but that comes with a hefty price tag. As a walk-on, I wasn’t receiving any athletic scholarship, meaning I would have to pay full tuition. I knew it would be a significant financial burden on my family, which added to the pressure of making the right decision. It wasn’t easy to justify paying such a high price for a school, especially when I had a more affordable option close to home with scholarship support.
However, the biggest reason I almost didn’t walk on was that I got accepted into my dream school, San Diego State University (SDSU). SDSU had always been my top choice, not just because of its vital academic programs but because it felt like home. All my friends were going there, and as a high school senior, I had this image in my mind of us rushing fraternities together and enjoying the “college experience” in San Diego. I didn’t have any football scholarships, and after surgery ended my senior season early, I started to think that playing football in college might not happen for me.
When I got the acceptance letter from SDSU, I was ecstatic. It felt like a perfect backup plan, and I imagined having a blast with friends close to home in a city I knew well. San Diego is only two hours from my hometown, and I had family there, so it seemed like the best of both worlds — the fun of college life, the comfort of home, and the chance to spend time with people I cared about.
On top of that, SDSU had a reputation for being a party school, and as a single high school senior, I found that pretty appealing. During my visit to the campus, I realized how easy the academics seemed to be, and I started picturing a life where the most significant challenge would be keeping up with social events. Plus, with a decent scholarship and the benefit of in-state tuition, the financial burden on my family would be minimal, which my parents greatly liked.
Why I Chose to Walk On
Despite all these reasons for going to SDSU, I ultimately chose to walk on at Rice. The main reason was my love for football. It had been my dream to play college football for as long as I could remember. Even though I got no scholarship offers and my senior season didn’t go as planned due to my surgery, I still had this deep passion for the game. Walking on wasn’t the easiest path, but I knew that if I didn’t try, I’d always be haunted by the “what ifs.” I couldn’t let my football journey end like that.
The second reason was Rice itself. When I visited for the spring game, everything changed for me. I was struck by how welcoming the coaching staff and players were. Even though I was just a walk-on, the coaches treated me like a scholarship player. I got to meet my position coach, the coordinator, and the head coach, and all made me feel like part of the team right from the start. I could feel the team chemistry, and it was clear that these guys cared about each other. It felt like a family, something I hadn’t expected to find so far from home.
The academics at Rice were another huge draw. I realized that Rice was an investment I couldn’t pass up in my future. The school’s prestige and the doors it would open for me after graduation were hard to ignore. As I weighed my options — being a student-athlete at Rice or living the frat life at SDSU — I couldn’t shake the feeling that Rice offered something more meaningful. I knew that football wouldn’t last forever, but the education and experience I’d gain at Rice would stay with me for life.
Ultimately, I chose to walk on at Rice because I didn’t want to settle for a life of “what ifs.” I tried to push myself, not just on the football field but in the classroom and life. Rice gave me that opportunity, and I’m grateful every day that I decided to bet on myself.