Honestly I have tried quite a bit to find out how it works and I can’t find a definite explanation. Ive asked on here, twitter, and reddit for info on who can or can’t go off-scholarship. I’ve gotten nothing definite, just sentiments like “Bluder will find a way” “it’s been done before” or whatever.
The only halfway reputable source I could find is a website geared toward student athletes/parents that said if a kid has ever taken an official visit, they can’t become a walk-on. Taking an OV means you were “recruited” which precludes the nature of being a walk-on. There are other things about recruitment that preclude the possibility as well — like where and how communication with Bluder happened.
Now that’s not from the NCAA (I couldn’t find anything there, unbelievably — I assumed it’d be publicly accessible but apparently not) so it could definitely be wrong. But it’s the best I can find and it all makes sense. You’d think the NCAA wouldn’t want just anyone to be able to become a “walk-on” — or coaches would do it all the time to have extra players.
Multiple people here have said it’s been done before but everytime I’ve asked for an example or a link to refute the policy I mentioned, they go silent. I suppose it’s possible someone on the team didn’t take an OV, but as far as I can tell, Bluder doesn’t hesitate to hand those out. Even Callie Levin had an OV — and she only had to drive from Solon, and she was already signed. Someone mentioned they’ve seen men’s players do it but I’m not sure they were positive the recruiting situation was the same.
I’d really love to be wrong. Please, anyone, prove me wrong lol. Show me a mens player who took an OV who became a walk-on. Or show me a NCAA policy that says it’s possible. I’d even love it if anyone could prove (or even suspect) that any one of our team members next year could be a candidate to become a walk-on bc they never took an OV.
Again the transfer situation also poses problems. Some people think it’s as easy as Bluder forcing someone out of the program. Now, if you go thru my post history you’ll see I’m the first person to flatly say that Bluder would never in a million years do that to any of her kids. But even if she did, the timing just doesn’t work out for Clark. Clark has to declare within 48 hours of her last game, and “declare” means she foregoes any college eligibility she has left. The chances of someone entering the portal within 48 hours of their last game are slim to none, and Clark can’t undo that decision once she makes it.