Center Grove football product, IU walk-on earns scholarship: 'It's the American dream, baby'

Jordan Guskey | IndyStar

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Gavin Everett’s teammates wasted no time mobbing him.

IU football coach Tom Allen, just moments earlier, had called on everyone to circle up and requested the walk-on, redshirt junior defensive lineman line up across from junior offensive tackle Coy Cronk in a one-on-one drill. Best man wins.

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“This is a tough-man drill,” Allen shouted through his bullhorn. “This is about having heart. This is about having toughness, unshakeable toughness.”

Shouts from Cronk and Everett’s teammates began to drown out Allen’s voice as the two prepared to hurl themselves at each other. Those on offense looked on in white jerseys and red pants, while those on defense wore red jerseys and white pants. Coaches had to hold their hands up to quiet everyone down.

“That is why Gavin Everett is getting a scholarship,” Allen said.

"That is why Gavin Everett is getting a scholarship!"@CoachAllenIU surprises @IndianaFootball DL with a scholarship. pic.twitter.com/hKVj1Lehdc — Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) August 14, 2018

Allen later praised the former walk-on and all-state Center Grove product in front of the team for always showing up ready to work and never complaining.

Everett spent the 2015 season on the bench at Western Illinois before he transferred to IU, walked on and sat out in 2016 due to NCAA transfer rules. Last year, he collected seven tackles, a half-sack and one forced fumble in nine games.

“He brings it, I’m telling you, every single day,” redshirt sophomore quarterback Peyton Ramsey told reporters after practice. “I’m so happy for that kid, because he’s a hard worker and a good player.”

Everett's high school coach at Center Grove, Eric Moore, wasn't surprised to hear IU awarded a scholarship to the former Trojan.

Moore told IndyStar he always thought Everett was a Big Ten talent, just that Everett was a late bloomer physically and needed a bit more time to develop after high school.

“He went there and took a chance," said Moore about Everett's decision to give up a guaranteed spot at Western Illinois and transfer to IU. "It’s the American dream, baby.”

Moore knows first hand the work ethic Everett's Hoosiers teammates and coaches are praising. Moore said Everett was a leader by example, always first in line, never missed a workout at Center Grove and let the results on the field speak volumes.

He could trust Everett would always represent his family, school and community well, and bets those intangibles are what drew the IU coaching staff's attention to Everett. The now-scholarship lineman praised his coaches when he and Moore exchanged messages after the surprise.

“Are there going to be better defensive linemen than him?" Moore asked. "Absolutely. But will they work as hard as him?”

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Jordan Guskey on Twitter at @JordanGuskey or email him at jguskey@gannett.com.