Priority Walk on?

Never heard the "priority"  term before, and not sure what weight that brings to the situation.  He's knows he isn't getting money or a roster spot which put him in familiar company with the other walk-ons.  Possibly "priority" means the coach has a need at that positon, and he will look at him more than once.   Otherwise your guess is as good as mine and Dad's.  Good luck!

Since the passage of the 35-man roster limit and the requirement that DI programs provide athletic scholarship funds to 27 players, the status of the 8 walk-ons has become more precarious than it was before the imposition of the 35-man limit; "priority" or not.

If the size of the incoming class threatens to take the roster over the limit, you can be certain that it'll be the walk-ons who are looked to as the first to go. A significant influence on this is that their departure does not affect the program's Academic Progress Rate, as it does if any of the 27 scholarship players are jettisoned.

Prior to the creation of the 35-man limit, the roster could be expanded to accommodate any players who were at the margin if both coaches and players agreed that that was the best course to take.

The term I always heard was "preferred walk on."  I was one of those.  What basically went down was that I had a good HS career and was going to go to a JUCO.  I had very good academics and would, in fact, gain an academic scholarship.  So, I cost the baseball program no money at all.  I am positive that times have changed but I don't recommend it.  I seemed to get assigned all of the chores and very little playing time.  To add insult to injury, I am not even listed on the universities alumni page.  Yet, I used to always get an invite to the golf fundraiser.  LOL!

Lots of catchers get "preferred walk on" status to catch bull pens.  As a walk on you need a skill that sets you apart.  I remember several who could flat out fly so they made it as late game pinch runners or even outfield defensive subs.  Just a good all around player will not get the looks to make an impression.

Opportunity? No promises? To how many recruits did he make this pitch? How many roster spots are available? At best your son is player #28 on a roster that will probably utilize 20 players. Yes, it could be an opportunity. But how much of one? It could be an opportunity to lose a year of playing baseball.

The coach likely added the word "priority" to make the recruit feel good. Red Flag IMO.

You need to do your homework to find out how this particular program treats its "preferred walk on" players, (assuming that is what coach meant).  Each D1 program/coach is different.  Some treat players just like scholarship players and they get guarantee to make roster, and others treat them like trash. 

The gap in talent levels which almost always exist between a non-competitive D3 and a moderately competitive D1, combined with the "priority" terminology make this a real puzzler.  To be honest, it is hard to envision a HS senior having the two options as they are presented, unless the player slipped through every crack imaginable to land at a non-competitive D3, only to find a moderately competitive D1 willing to offer some type of "priority" status for any walk-on at this late date.

When we put this in the context which Prepster provided, unless there is something to define the talent level as far, far better than non-competitive D3, I would pay  attention to "no promises" rather than whatever the term "priority" might mean. This sounds like pushing a huge boulder up a very steep and tall mountain, based on the divergence between a non-competitive D3 and what is described for the D1.

It doesn't change that the odds of making the team as a priority walk on as probably slim and none.

SluggerDad - for your cousin's son, what will be more important than the designation as a "priority walk-on", if he chooses at some point to transfer to another DI school, is whether he meets the definition of "recruited."  If he was not "recruited" to the DI school, he'll have a chance to transfer to another DI and be able to be immediately eligible rather than being required to sit out for a year.  For additional info, here's a link to our blog titled "NCAA Rules - Definition of a Recruited Athlete":  http://www.informedathlete.com...-a-recruited-athlete

My son took a recruited walk on spot on a top D1.  Many here seem to feel "non scholarship" athlete's stand no chance.  Well, they are both right and wrong.  The easy path is reserved for the scholarship athletes for sure.  Those kids can go hitless  seemingly forever while certainly in the minimal chances given a walk on they better go 3-3 and even then they won't play again for a long time.

Now, that's painting a pretty dismal picture but if you have a kid who can fight through adversity and perform under huge pressure, one who loves the game enough to accept the scraps and turn them into a delicious meal, it's not impossible to work your way into the line up.  Through spring my son couldn't sniff the field despite non dominate or even not very good performances up and down the line up.  But by the end of the season and through out the post season he was a starter who made great contributions.  It was an incredible lesson that can help him his whole life.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am sure he will return in the fall expecting to find his spot his and be sitting behind the new crop of freshman until he can't be denied again while guys on scholarship don't preform and still play.  All that said, my son is very happy wear he is at and thrives as the underdog. 

Last point, don't let them get you to qualify as a recruited walk on because then as Rick said, they have you by the short hairs and you have no power. 

From what I understand, isnt all this scholarship $$$$  going to pitching???

 they dont have to hit just wait on the rotation day and pitch..

A lot of the $$$ is for out-of-state players... its just hear-say but sure, some kid from Tx is not coming east unless the scholarship $$$ is in place.

Where an in-state kid will have to relay on WALK-ON Hopes and dreams.

What is it 11.7 to hand out to the whole team of players...

but I could be wrong... 

Serious question - why do you suppose that is?  I hear this all the time, and I see it in MLB with the big contract guys who stay in the line up no matter how dismal their performance.  To me this is throwing good money after bad and makes no sense.  It seems that if winning is important the HC will play the best 9 no matter what the scholarship deals.  Why does scholarship amount matter once the game begins?

They are the same reasons that any organization makes bad decisions.  They had incorrect information, or nobody wants to tell execs/the front office/college coach they made the wrong decision.  It is a lot more obvious in MLB than college, but it is the same. 

Personally, I've seen college players come off the bench who'd never been given a shot before, and deliver.  I love it.  But, I can't help to wonder how many others are being held back because a coach doesn't want to look like he doesn't know how to evaluate talent or know what he is doing.  I really wonder how many college coaches use their coaching staffs to their full capabilities.  I've seen (and heard of ) numerous programs where the Head Coach is making all the decisions with little input from his assistants,  Just like a company, that is not going to work out well in the long run.  JMO.