North Texas has a long history of having walk-ons develop into key players.
Linebacker Derek Mendoza and Casey Fitzgerald are two recent examples of recruits who came to UNT without a scholarship and quickly developed into starters.
Chris Hurd followed the same path and was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2003.
Last season, it was wide receiver Ivan Delgado who went from walk-on to major contributor.
UNT head coach Dan McCarney said on national signing day that he wants the trend to continue.
"We are trying to get some young men to join the program right now without a scholarship," McCarney said. "I have awarded eight in the 12 or 13 months that I have been here, and there is no doubt I will do it again this spring. The tradition has begun and is real strong here at North Texas. We will take care of walk-ons if you contribute and help us win on game day."
UNT is still well below the NCAA's 85-scholarship limit, which has opened up opportunities for walk-ons.
That opportunity has not gone unnoticed by players around the state.
Kaydon Kirby is one example.
The Flower Mound offensive lineman is passing up multiple scholarship opportunities, including one at Division II Angelo State, to join the Mean Green.
Kirby is among the preferred walk-ons who will be with the team in the fall.
"I have been talking to North Texas for a while," Kirby said. "I think there was a possibility that I could have gotten a scholarship, but they told me later on that I would be a preferred walk-on. I was OK with that."
Kirby might be the perfect example of the type of player UNT is looking for in terms of walk-ons.
At 6-3 and 290 pounds, Kirby has good size for a player in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He also was a pretty good player in high school, earning second-team all-league honors in District 8-5A, which is loaded with top talent.
Kirby visited UNT several times and felt like it would be worth it to pay his own way at a school where he felt comfortable.
"I really like the coaches and have been talking to [offensive coordinator Mike] Canales," Kirby said. "It is close to home and I am really close to my family. It's a great campus. That stadium is amazing."
Kirby is hoping to get a chance to play at Apogee Stadium. His chances won't be as great as the top-rated recruits in UNT's signing class.
Kirby is not deterred by that fact. He said he will work hard and has set a goal to earn a scholarship like so many of the walk-ons who came before him.
The fact that he can take on that challenge where he felt at home is why the opportunity at UNT was so intriguing.
"I have been to the campus and it felt good," Kirby said. "It felt like that was where I needed to be."
BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.
