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DAWN REISSSophomore running back Ryan McNally works to gain some playing time as a walk-on.
Ryan McNally had options.
Options such as Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida and Harvard.
But he knew playing time would be hard to come by. Even for a Crystal River running back who amassed 3,606 yards in his high school career.
At first McNally was picky. He assumed life would come easy and a Gators scholarship was close at hand.
September rolled into December, then reality set in.
Bench-warm-
ing at a big-time Division I program or the possibility of playing for a lesser-known school. Time was closing in fast, as graduation and summer approached."Now I tell everyone, "Don't be picky,"' said McNally, a 2003 Crystal River grad. "You might think you can go somewhere big, but fill out every application and questionnaire, no matter how big or small. Anyone that is showing interest, follow-up, just don't be too proud. Once they choose you, then you can pick where you want to go."'
That was a year ago, the summer before his freshman year at Florida Atlantic University. Now as an incoming sophomore, McNally has seen life as a walk-on.
"I was used to being the starting running back," McNally said. "Going from being a big fish in small pond, to small fish in big pond is humbling. I'm not going out there to be seen as a superstar. I'm just doing it for the game because I love it. It's not a question if I want to play football or not; it's if I wasn't playing football what would I be doing? Not playing football is just too hard of a thought."
Life as a walk-on began last August, when colleges aren't limited by non-playing rosters. McNally sent in a few game tapes and showed up for a single tryout that would determine his playing future.
"They were looking for linemen," he said. "They didn't need any more running backs. Anyone in a skills position is usually given scholarships, and they already had enough people picked out. I was aware of it and worried. Everyone wants to be a receiver and running back; no one wants to be a lineman."
Tryouts last only a few hours and include a 12-minute run, 5-minute shuffle and 40-yard dash of 4.6 seconds in cleats on grass.
"They just want to know if you can survive," McNally said. "Unless you go out and completely smoke everyone, they won't give you a chance. You could be a good track star but be horrible at playing football. That's why it's so important to send in game footage and talk to the coaches before the tryout."
The workouts are even harder when two walk-ons have similar names, such as McNally and McNeilly.
At 10:45 the night before the roster was released, McNally woke up from a nightmare - that Florida Atlantic coaches had wanted to choose him but posted McNeilly's name instead.
The next day, McNally went to Tom Oxley Center to look at the final roster.
"I saw one of the coaches and asked if my name was on it," McNally said. "They looked and said, "No, McNeilly.' Then they looked at me and said, "Oh, that's the guy we want not the other one.' They had called me McNeilly instead. If I hadn't been there when they posted the list, I might never have made the team."
Making the team was only part of the battle. Running at 5 a.m., practice, two-hour weight sessions and no scholarship - all while trying to go to class.
"It was a true test of whether I want to continue on or not," McNally said. "When you do make the team, they tell you it's going to be hard. But it doesn't really sink in until you're waking up at 5 a.m to go for a run."
As other walk-ons started quiting, the balance became more difficult.
"Being a walk-on is just as hard as everyone else, except you don't get money and you have to find a job to pay for everything," McNally said. "I even questioned if I wanted to play football, and I didn't think I would even question it - not getting a scholarship, not playing or get recognized. If you can get past that and realize that you still want to play, you'll get a lot of respect. You might not get a lot of playing time, but you'll get a lot of respect because everyone knows you are still out there."
In high school, McNally was more focused on running and scoring and not known as a blocking back. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, he fit Florida Atlantic's greater need for blocking and size as a third-string fullback.
"Ryan kind of just showed up on our doorstep," said FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger, who has 85 scholarship players. "We didn't know what to expect. He has distinguished himself not only as a good football player but in the classroom and training room. He's been of our grade. He was green as a gourd when he arrived and has a lot to learn, but he is passionate about football."
McNally's college highlight came when Schnellenberger told the team it couldn't quit practice until somebody scored. The Owls put the ball in play, for a handoff to McNally.
"And I dropped the ball," McNally said. "I thought, "Now they aren't going to give it to me anymore."'
But they did. "On the next play, I blocked as hard as I could," McNally said. "The line broke free. I saw a hole and sprinted 60 yards. Everyone went crazy. It was one of the best moments. Everyone was happy, and I got noticed."
Plays like that are getting Florida Atlantic's coaching staff attention. With FAU beginning a two-year transition from Independent I-AA to I-A in the Sunbelt Conference, the Owls will be noticed more than ever.
With a two-back pro-style offense, McNally could see playing time as soon as this season. At least the possibility is there.
"He's pretty close," offensive coordinator Larry Seiple said about McNally, who has four players in front of him. "He had a pretty good fall and impressed some of us in the scrimmages for kids who don't play. We are anxiously hoping he will have a shot at being in a playing position. Now it's all up to him."