Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation Announces Five Recipients of the 2026 BE Resilient Walk On Scholarship

The Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation today announced the five recipients of its 2026 BE Resilient Walk On Scholarship, which awards $10,000 to each recipient and recognizes college walk-on student-athletes who embody resilience, perseverance, and heart on and off the field of play.

This year’s scholarship winners were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants nationwide. Each recipient earned their place on their team without an athletic scholarship, overcoming significant obstacles and proving themselves through hard work and determination.

The 2026 BE Resilient Walk On Scholarship recipients are:

John Condakes, UMass, Football

Oscar Eanes, Morehouse College, Baseball

Karis Gidley, University of Alabama, Rowing

Alexis Grissett, Indiana University Indianapolis, Volleyball

Dylan Leighton, University of Florida, Football

“Every one of this year’s recipients represents exactly what this scholarship was created to honor,” stated Baker Mayfield. “They have each had their own obstacles to overcome to get where they are today, and they never let those challenges stop them from reaching their goals. Emily and I are proud to support their continued growth as students and athletes.”

This year marks the second year of the Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation's BE Resilient Walk On scholarship program, which awards $10,000 scholarships to help alleviate some of the financial pressures that walk-on athletes face as they pursue their athletic and academic goals.

During his collegiate career, Baker Mayfield became one of the most successful walk-on athletes in college football history, becoming the first walk-on to open an FBS season as a starting quarterback at Texas Tech University before transferring to the University of Oklahoma. There, he played for three seasons and capped off his collegiate career by becoming the first-ever walk-on player to win the Heisman Trophy in 2017. He went on to become the first former walk-on selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Those interested in supporting the scholarship program's growth and expansion can contact the Foundation at info@bemayfield.com or donate at bemayfield.org/donate.