Nicolas Jean-Baptiste. Photo courtesy of Baylor Athletics
You have to spend your first season earning the respect and trust of your teammates and coaches. You have to prove you can play so they trust you on the field.
Nicolas Jean-Baptiste
Baylor University
Football Walk-on Defensive Linemen
2011: Starting Nose Tackle
2010: Earned starting defensive tackle position in 4th game. 31 Total tackles for the year
2009: Played in 12 games. Earned 2nd Letter. Awarded a Scholarship
2008: Played in 12 games. Earned 1st Letter. Spring 2009 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
2007: Red-shirt Walk-on
Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, Nic, graduated from Strake Jesuit College Prep without any scholarship offers. Some smaller schools were interested in him, but he believed he could play division one football. Baylor University was recruiting a teammate of Nic’s. When a Baylor coach came to see film of that player, he saw Nic also. Baylor’s coaches also saw Nic at a summer camp playing defensive line. They invited Nic to walk-on.
WillofaChampion: Why do you think you weren’t offered a scholarship coming out of high school?
Photo courtesy of Baylor Athletics
Nic: My junior year I suffered an ankle sprain early in the season. I didn’t recover until the playoffs. That was too late to attract attention. I went to camps that summer, but I was playing offensive line. I wasn’t that big so I didn’t get much of a look. My dad suggested I try defensive line. So at the Baylor camp I played defensive line. That is when I met coach and he invited me to walk-on.
WillofaChampion: What was one of your greatest challenges as a walk-on?
Nic: Sometimes you don’t get as much respect as a scholarship player. It is a longer road to playing time. They give the first opportunities to scholarship players. A walk-on just has to be patient and when you get your turn, take advantage of it.
WillofaChampion: Did you have to spend extra time working-out, running, or practicing compared to scholarship players?
Nic: Yes, especially the spring of my freshman year. I had to work hard on cardio exercises. I lost a little weight. I spent extra time lifting. I increased my upper body strength. I just wanted to gain an edge.
Photo courtesy of Baylor Athletics
WillofaChampion: Do you have to be mentally tougher as a walk-on compared to a scholarship player?
Nic: I feel like you do. You have to spend your first season earning the respect and trust of your teammates and coaches. You have to prove you can play so they trust you on the field.
WillofaChampion: How do you develop that trust?
Nic: It starts at practice. You earn trust through practicing hard and performing. The next step is scrimmages. Once your teammates see you perform well in scrimmages then they start to trust you. They see you’re not just another walk-on.
WillofaChampion: How did your teammates receive you?
Nic: Some guys were really cool. Others guys didn’t write me off but thought I was just another walk-on. Once we started practicing and they saw me play, they started coming around.
WillofaChampion: How did your coaches receive you?
Photo courtesy of Baylor Athletics
Nic: The coaches that brought me in believed in me. So does Coach Achuff. Once I confirmed their belief on the field their trust in me grew fast.
WillofaChampion: What was it like when you first heard you got a scholarship?
Nic: Coach Achuff texted me and asked me to come to the office. When I got there he told me how hard I was working and how proud he was. Then Coach Briles told me they were going to put me on scholarship. I was so excited! I called my mom and she cried. My whole family started calling me.
WillofaChampion: Why do you think you’ve made it when other walk-ons do not?
Photo courtesy of Baylor Athletics
Nic: I think I have taken advantage of my opportunities. Especially my playing time at the beginning; I showed the coaches right away I could play. You have to take advantage of those little opportunities when they present themselves.
WillofaChampion: When you go through challenging times, who do you speak with to encourage you?
Nic: My parents. I talked to my dad about football. I talk to my mom about life. My parents have helped me a lot. Especially my freshman year when I was getting down on myself a little bit. My parents would motivate me. They’ve been behind me the whole time.
WillofaChampion: What impact has following your dream and earning it had on the rest of your life?
Nic: A big impact. I am a lot more confident. I feel like I can do a lot more things now.
WillofaChampion: What advice do you have for other athletes considering walking-on?
Nic: Be patient. Be mentally tough. Take advantage of the opportunity when it comes; do not let it pass you by. Otherwise, you’ll just be another walk-on.
Nic is majoring in general studies