Linebacker Switches Walk-On Plans from Wisconsin to UW
Austin Harnetiaux, dissatisfied with his recruiting situation, turned down scholarship offers from Eastern Washington, Army, Georgetown, Air Force and others, and announced bold plans to walk on at Wisconsin.
Still not satisfied with his college football arrangement, the Seattle Preparatory School linebacker said this week he would join the University of Washington football program instead, also without a scholarship.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Harnetiaux obviously envisions himself as a Big Ten or Pac-12 player deserving of financial assistance.
While solidly built and highly productive as a high school player, he likely still has to prove he's fast enough to play for a Power 5 school, though he lists a 4.67-second 40-yard dash on his profile.
Searching for a college program last year, Harnetiaux pitched himself to the Badgers and outside linebackers coach Bobby April with a flurry of emails and drew a positive response.
"Their walk-on program is phenomenal and they do a great job of converting those guys into contributors," Harnetiaux told badgerswire.com. "I think I can go there and earn my money in the weight room, and I want to be a leader and someone who makes plays on Saturdays."
The former Prep standout declared he would enroll at Wisconsin in December but he changed his mind last week. As a walk-on, of course, he was under no obligation to join the Badgers.
Instead, Harnetiaux will try do what inside linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio and cornerback Mishael Powell have made happen at the UW in recent seasons — go from walk-on to scholarship recipient and a full- or a part-time starter.
While Seattle Prep is the high school nearest the UW, it has supplied just a handful of players who have made meaningful contributions over the past several decades.
Prep alums who have made the successful jump include linebacker Jim Kristof, running back Mark Wheeler and punter Ryan Fleming, all starters for the Huskies at some point.
Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Husky Maven stories as soon as they’re published.
Not all stories are posted on the fan sites.
Find Husky Maven on Facebook by searching: Husky Maven/Sports Illustrated
Follow Dan Raley of Husky Maven on Twitter: @DanRaley1 and @HuskyMaven