WATCH: Miami football walk-on awarded surprise scholarship

University of Cincinnati Bearcats defeat Miami Redhawks 27-20 at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.David A. Moodie, contributing photographer.

University of Cincinnati Bearcats defeat Miami Redhawks 27-20 at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.David A. Moodie, contributing photographer.

OXFORD — The Miami RedHawks football team wrapped up spring practice Saturday with their spring showcase intra-squad game.

RedHawks head coach Chuck Martin opened the event with a surprise.

Team Schembechler sent redshirt sophomore defensive back Silas Walters, a 6-foot, 197-pound walk-on from Lakota West, out for the coin flip. Martin looked at him and said, “If you win, you can choose offense or defense — or whether to accept a scholarship.”

Walters’s teammates ran from the sidelines and jubilantly swarmed him on the field. He confessed to being completely surprised.

“What made it even better is my parents and aunts and uncles and grandparents and girlfriend all were here,” said Walters, who played in 10 games last season.

“That was a no-brainer,” Martin said. “That’s one of the best parts of my job.”

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