COMMENTARY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Justin Arndt’s fifth preseason camp at West Virginia reminds him how he barely withstood his first.
Outsized and completely out of the running for practice reps—much less playing time—he was an invited walk-on who considered walking away. A high school football hero turned insignificant. Counting the list of linebackers ahead of him became a depressing practice ritual.
“Man, I remember how much I hated this,” he said. “You come in and you’re not given as many opportunities as the scholarship kids, so you’re just watching. You’re not getting many reps and you’re thinking, ‘I can’t do this.’”
If only 2012 Arndt could have heard from his 2016 self.
This week, Arndt opened camp fronting the depth chart at Sam linebacker. It’s a precarious spot—considering how junior Xavier Preston really looks the part of a Big 12 linebacker while Arndt, at 5-11 and 215 pounds, doesn’t—yet defensive coordinator Tony Gibson foresees roles for both.
“People don’t think I can do what I do,” Arndt said, “but I have speed and I have intelligence. I know some matchups aren’t in my favor, but I try to be ahead of the play, see the play before it starts.
“People always underestimated me, and I thrive on it.”
In 2012, he graduated Martinsburg High with back-to-back state championship MVPs but no major college interest. Setting his sights on playing at James Madison only brought more disappointment when he couldn’t land an offer from the FCS school.
Amid Division II interest he likely would have wound up at Fairmont State if not for taking the thankless path of walking on at WVU.
“There’s a lot of getting down yourself,” said Arndt, “but all you can do is work and focus on making yourself better.”
Recognition soon bubbled for his scout-team efforts and the breakthrough in Week 7 of 2013, elevated to a spot on the special teams coverage and return units. Though the Mountaineers lost to Texas Tech 37-27, Arndt finally felt as if he belonged.
“Finally I was out there making plays,” he said. “Finally I started to feel like they have trust in me.”
Then came the happiest blindside hit of his career: Dana Holgorsen surprising Arndt with a scholarship at a team meeting in April 2015. The applause, the hoots from teammates, the gush of accomplishment—so overwhelming that the man of the moment didn’t know how to react.
Now Arndt beams at each new video of some coach at another school fulfilling another walk-on’s wish.
“I love those, because I know how that kid’s feeling.”
Just as he senses what West Virginia’s current walk-ons are enduring. A freshman recently asked Arndt if it gets any better.
“I told him I was in your spot, and I know how hard it is. You’ve just got to keep the mindset that you’ll make it. You may not see the light at the end of tunnel now, but eventually you will.”