Arizona Wildcats defensive end Justin Belknap, who started 11 of 12 games last season as a walk-on, is no longer a walk-on.
The redshirt sophomore from Henderson, Nevada, received a scholarship Sunday. Belknapโs mom broke the news on Motherโs Day:
Can you say scholarship?! Best Mother's Day present ever!!! ๐ปโฌ๏ธ๐#beardown #proudmom #UAfootball
โ Anna Belknap (@annabelknaplv) May 14, 2017
Belknap accumulated 16 tackles, including 2.5 for losses, and two passes defensed as a redshirt freshman in 2016. His role on the team clearly merited a scholarship, but Belknap had to wait for accounting purposes.
As I noted near the end of this story on fellow defensive lineman Larry Tharpe Jr., the NCAA has a two-year rule when it comes to scholarships and how theyโre counted. Basically, if Arizona had given Belknap a scholarship during the โ16 season, it would have counted against the schoolโs annual allowance of 25 initial counters. Now it only counts toward the teamโs overall total of 85.
Despite being undersized (6-2, 247) and Arizona adding bodies to its defensive front, Belknap should remain part of the rotation next season. On paper, the Wildcats have enough viable players to deploy two full units at the three โinteriorโ defensive line positions.
