3 days ago
Watch: Alabama football walk-on offensive lineman receives full scholarship
An Alabama football offensive lineman has a full scholarship for his redshirt senior season.
According to a video posted by the University of Alabama Name, Image and Likeness collective Friday, August. 15, Graham Roten, a fifth-year offensive lineman out of Nashville, Tennessee, received a scholarship from 68 Ventures, a development and investment company based in Daphne, Alabama.
"Everything that they have taken from here, wanting to give back," Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said of 68 Ventures founder Nathan Cox. "And I know this has been on Nathan's heart for a while. We've been talking about this, swapping emails. He's put a lot into what he wanted this scholarship ... this 68 Ventures support for one of you walk-ons, including everything that a scholarship player would have: room and board, tuition, books, fees, all of it."
DeBoer then announced Roten as the recipient, who was mobbed by his offensive line teammates.
"Forever grateful for the opportunity to be (a part) of this program for the past 5 years," Roten wrote on his Instagram story.
Cox said Roten was the only player who pulled Cox aside at a spring practice and talked with him about what he wanted to pursue after football with his business degree.
Roten played in two games for Alabama in 2024: Western Kentucky and Mercer. He was offensive scout team player of the week ahead of the Western Kentucky opener.
Roten also played in Alabama's 2023 win against Chattanooga.
Alabama football opens the 2025 season at Florida State Aug. 30.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football walk-on offensive lineman receives full scholarship
