The videos of walk-ons being awarded full scholarships in front of the entire team are moments that viewers can't help but smile.
Alabama football award walk-on offensive lineman Graham Roten a scholarship. The Crimson Tide partnered with 68 Ventures to create this new annual scholarship.
68 Ventures is the parent company for numerous operating businesses along the Gulf Coast which focus on development, investment and construction. Nathan Cox, the company's founder, helped present the scholarship alongside Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Yea Alabama, UA's NIL collective, announced the news on Friday, which sent the Crimson Tide into a frenzy.
"I know this has been on Nathan's heart here for quite a while," DeBoer said on Friday. "We've been talking about this, swapping emails. He's put a lot into what he wanted this scholarship, we're going to call it, 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.
"So this year, the scholarship is going to go to Graham Roten."
Roten is a redshirt senior and is entering his fifth year at Alabama. This is not the first thing that he's been awarded over the last year, as on Aug. 18, 2024, Roten, Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson and former running back Justice Haynes (transferred to Michigan), were the recipients of the Charlie Compton Award for Christian leadership.
The 6-foot-3, 295 pounder is from Nashville, Tenn., and played high school football at Christ Presbyterian Academy. He didn't see any time on the field in 2021 and 2022 but played a few snaps against Chattanooga in 2023 and saw some action against Western Kentucky and Mercer last season.
Roten joins the following Alabama offensive linemen with scholarships: Kadyn Proctor, Parker Brailsford, Jaeden Roberts, Wilkin Formby, Kam Dewberry, Olaus Alinen, Geno VanDeMark, Roq Montgomery, Casey Poe, William Sanders, Joe Ionata, Arkel Anugwom, Jackson Lloyd, Michael Carroll, Micah DeBose and Mal Waldrep.