Illinois WR Donny Navarro Awarded with Scholarship

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Donny Navarro can no longer be labeled as a wonderful walk-on story.

The sophomore wide receiver, who transferred from Valparaiso, was awarded a full scholarship Thursday during a team meeting.

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith announced Navarro’s full athletic scholarship to the entire team during a meeting inside the Smith Center Football Facility. The above video was provided by the University of Illinois athletics department.

Navarro’s story as a productive walk-on player reached the full peak during the game against then-No. 6 Wisconsin. The 5-foot-11 Naperville native, who transferred from Valparaiso University, sprinted to the end zone on a 48-yard touchdown, his first in the Football Bowl Subdivision level, to get Illinois on the scoreboard in what turned out to be the most improbable upset in college football this season.

“Back in high school, Illinois had always been the dream school,” Navarro said back in October. “When the opportunity here a few years ago to become a preferred walk-on opened up, I decided that yeah, I’m going to take that and see what happens. I didn’t want to be anywhere else.”

In his freshman season at Valparaiso, a Football Championship Series program, Navarro led the team in receptions (32), receiving yards (539), yards per catch (16.8), touchdown receptions (five) and receiving yards per game (49.0) while topping all Pioneer Football League freshmen in receiving yards per game, total receiving yards and yards per catch.

Navarro currently sits fourth on the team in receiving yards (183) and fifth in receptions (11). In the last five games, Navarro has earned all of his production minus one catch for 10 yards.

"Well I think just overall, not just the last month, Donny has had to earn it the hard way,” Smith said last month. “Coming in without scholarship and just making people take notice. But if you continue to do things right you'll get an opportunity, and when you get your opportunity you need to step up to the plate and perform, and that's exactly what he did. The big play he had, you could only imagine the feelings he had, but he will continue to do that."

When asked by Illini Maven/Sports Illustrated last month if he’d thought about a scholarship offer, Navarro said he wasn’t expecting such a gesture by Smith and the Illini coaching staff.

“Usually staffs don’t put people on scholarship in the middle of the season so it’s not something I’ve thought or worried about but I’m hopeful that I can earn their consideration for that before I graduate from here,” Navarro said on Oct. 24. “Honestly, as a walk-on athlete at a big program like this, I just don’t have time to worry about that kind of thing.”

However, Navarro’s teammates have certainly thought about it.

“(Walk-on players) are paying to be here and they still have to go to all the meetings, all the workouts, and all the practices and even then, their opportunity may never come despite putting in all the work,” Illinois wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe said. “That’s why when you see him start to make plays and make an impact, at least for me, all I feel is pure joy that good things are happening to those who deserve it and have earned it.”

After the upset win against Wisconsin, Illinois offensive lineman Alex Palczewski had a suggestion for the coaching staff.

“Maybe a scholarship,” Palczewski said. “Hell, why not? If anybody on this team has earned it, he has. And that’s an understatement.”

On Nov. 7, 2019, Smith and Illini coaching staff heard and acted on Palczewski’s idea.