3-star athlete used a PWO as a launching pad — and earned the scholarship in year two
A hard-hitting safety with mid-major FBS offers who really wanted to play in the SEC. We helped him make a clear-eyed decision between a guaranteed G5 scholarship and a P4 preferred walk-on — and built the plan to earn the scholarship once he got there.
- Athlete
- Devon W. · Class of 2024
- Position
- Safety · 6'1" · 195 lbs
- Home
- Georgia
- Aid value
- Full ride athletic scholarship
4.52 / 3.7
40 time / GPA
5
G5 scholarship offers
2
P4 PWO offers
End of redshirt year
Scholarship earned by
Where they started
The situation
- 5 G5 scholarship offers on the table — all real, all fine schools
- Two P4 PWO offers with no financial guarantee
- Family split: dad said 'take the scholarship,' athlete said 'I want the shot'
- No plan for what 'earning' a scholarship actually requires
The plan we ran
What we actually did
Step 1
Ran the honest math
Broke down the true 4-year cost of a PWO vs. a full G5 ride, factoring in academic aid, family EFC, and the realistic timeline to earn a scholarship. It wasn't as far apart as it looked.
Step 2
Vetted the PWO promise
Called and emailed with specific questions: 'How many PWOs on scholarship after year two? Who's the last safety who earned it? What's the depth chart look like?' Coaches respected the questions — and answered them.
Step 3
Built the mental framework
Prepared the family for a redshirt year: no travel, limited reps, testing everything. The PWO who quits in November never earns the ride. Devon showed up ready.
Step 4
Stayed in his corner
Monthly check-ins through his freshman year. When the coaching change hit in December, we helped him navigate the portal decision — and stay put.
The turning point
Scout team player of the week three times in his redshirt year. When a scholarship opened up in August, the DBs coach walked into his dorm and handed him the paperwork.
The result
Where they ended up
- Earned a full scholarship at the end of his redshirt year
- Two years of eligibility remaining with a P4 program
- Family saved ~$60k over what a private G5 would have cost after aid
- Playing exactly where he wanted to play — on merit
"Everyone told us to take the guaranteed money. Kito didn't tell us what to do — he made sure we understood every angle. We made the call as a family, and it was the right one."
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