In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with former Boston College walk-on Steve Perpiglia - a player who didn’t just fight his way onto a Division I roster… he earned a scholarship for his senior year. That kind of leap doesn’t happen by luck, and Steve breaks down the mindset behind it.

Because if you spend any time around youth sports or the recruiting world today, you hear the same question again and again:

“How do I earn a scholarship?”

Most athletes think the answer is to specialize early. Or to master one skill. Or to hope a coach “discovers” them. But Steve flips that entire narrative. His answer is simple, honest, and rooted in real experience: Versatility.

Throughout his college career, Steve watched the landscape shift — rosters changing year to year, systems evolving, and competition ramping up with every recruiting class. But instead of trying to be the best at one narrow skill, he focused on becoming the type of player coaches need when everything hits the fan.

Because at the end of the day, coaches trust athletes who can adapt. They trust players who fill multiple roles, defend multiple positions, and stay valuable no matter what the situation demands. As Steve says, being versatile isn’t optional anymore — it’s a requirement.

And this conversation goes way deeper than earning a scholarship. We talk about the parts of player development young athletes overlook all the time:

- Why the transfer portal has reshaped what college coaches look for

- How versatility makes you “unbenchable” when the roster gets tight

- Why being a specialist is risky in today’s game

- The difference between being talented and being reliable

- What separates walk-ons who stay walk-ons from those who earn real opportunities

- How adaptability becomes a competitive weapon at the college level

- Why athleticism, communication, and coachability matter more than highlight reels

- What Steve wishes he knew at 15 about development and exposure

His story is a reminder that growth isn’t linear. It’s not scripted. And it’s definitely not guaranteed. You earn opportunities by becoming the solution — not by waiting for the perfect role or the perfect moment.

At Athletes Untapped, we believe great coaching doesn’t just sharpen skills. It builds resilient, adaptable athletes who take ownership of their development — exactly the mindset Steve used to turn a walk-on opportunity into a scholarship.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com — the nation’s #1 platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help athletes reach their full potential by connecting them with great coaches who elevate both skill and mindset.

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