NEWARK, DE -- University of Delaware head football coach K.C. Keeler has announced that five former walk-on players have earned partial scholarship money for the spring semester.

Sophomore placekicker Jon Striefsky (at right), freshman wide receiver Mark Schenauer, sophomore running back/wide receiver Mick Purzycki, sophomore defensive tackle Shane Smith, and sophomore tight end Chris Hyncik were all honored. Striefsky’s scholarship will become a full one in the fall.

“One of the greatest honors that a University of Delaware football player can achieve is being named captain or earning All-American honors,” said Keeler, who has led the Blue Hens to a six-year record of 52-26 and three NCAA Tournament appearances. “But equally as special is a walk-on who works hard and eventually earns money. We have been fortunate to have some outstanding football players here at Delaware who started out as walk-ons. We are very pleased to be able to reward these player for their hard work and commitment to our program.”

Striefsky, a 6-1, 185 lb. finance major from Lansdale, PA (North Penn High School), was one of the nation’s most remarkable stories during the 2007 season. A walk-on who was not expected to see much playing time this past fall, he won the starting placekicking job in pre-season practice and went on to earn first team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors and first team All-American honors by The Sports Network and by the Associated Press with a record-breaking season. The first kicker in UD history to earn All-American honors, he converted 21 of 24 field goals and 64 of 67 extra point attempts on the season and tied for the NCAA Division I FCS lead for points by kickers with 127 points. His 21 field goals, 64 extra points, and 127 points each set school records. He also set school records for consecutive field goals made (15) and consecutive extra points made (53).

Schenauer, a 6-3, 195 lb. business major from Galloway, NJ (Absegami HS), did not see game action during the 2007 but was a key member of the UD scout team during practice. He will retain freshman eligibility for the 2008 season. He was a three-sport standout at Absegami High School and was a two-time All-State selection in football as a wide receiver.

Hyncik, a 6-5, 265 lb. hotel, restaurant, and institutional management major with a minor in accounting and finance from Skillman, NJ (Montgomery HS), is a three-year member of the squad and earned a letter in 2007 when he played in five games as a backup tight end and special teams player. He was an all-league and all-area selection as a center at Montgomery High School.

Smith, a 6-5, 295 lb. mechanical engineering major with a minor in biomedical engineering from East Berlin, PA (Bermudian Springs HS), is a three-year member of the squad who has played both offensive tackle and defensive tackle during his career. He earned a letter this past fall when he played in three games as a backup at defensive tackle. He was a first team All-State selection in football at Bermudian Springs as an offensive lineman.

Purzycki, a 5-9, 180 lb. business finance major from Wilmington, DE (Tatnall School), will also be a third-year member of the squad this fall. He has played both wide receiver and running back at Delaware and appeared in one game during the 2007 season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in practice early in the season. He was an All-State wide receiver at the Tatnall School.

Delaware posted an 11-3 record this past season and advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national championship game. The Blue Hens also received the Lambert Cup Trophy and were named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Team of the Year Award, both symbolic of supremacy in Eastern football for the 2007 season.

The Blue Hens will open spring practice on Friday, March 14 with the annual Blue-White Spring Game scheduled for Saturday, April 19 at Delaware Stadium.