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It’s always heartwarming to see walk-on college football players get awarded scholarships. That recently happened for 4 LSU student-athletes.
Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron announced during his weekly radio show on Wednesday night that Jack Mashburn, Evan Francioni, Nick Demas and Spencer Payne have all become scholarship players. It’s a great gesture, one that Orgeron said that he always enjoys.
“We are very proud of those young men,” Orgeron said on the show. “The team went crazy. I wish I could have rewarded all of them scholarships, but we couldn’t do it. Those guys are very worthy and I know their parents are proud. …
“It’s something they can always tell their children, ‘I walked on at LSU and I earned a scholarship. I was a scholarship football player at LSU.’ That’s something that takes hard work and dedication, and it takes a commitment from the parents and the players and I’m so happy that we could do it.”
So they didn't get it on camera today, but I'm sure it was awesome and full of emotion.
Here's Coach O talking about awarding scholarships to their walk-on's: Jack Mashburn, Evan Francioni, Nick Demas and Spencer Payne #LSU pic.twitter.com/AJ5RGPcTCc
— Michael Cauble (@Cauble) October 28, 2021
Mashburn is a redshirt sophomore tight end who has appeared in 8 games this season. He notched his first career reception — a 7-yard catch — in LSU’s win against Florida on Oct. 16.
Francioni is a junior wide receiver who has played 8 games this season, mostly on special teams.
Demas is a redshirt freshman running back who has appeared in 6 games this season.
Payne is a freshman offensive lineman who has appeared in 6 games this season.
Now that these 4 are all scholarship players, they’ll look to continue to help LSU succeed. The Tigers have a bye this week, but they’ll return to action with a road matchup against No. 3 Alabama on Nov. 6.
Correction: The article has been updated to properly reflect Payne’s participation in 6 games this season.
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
