Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield joined his first college football team as a walk-on, with no scholarship, no playbook and no guarantees.
What he had instead was grit. That same determination inspired the Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation Walk-On Scholarship, a $10,000 award that honors student-athletes who push forward without financial support.
The announcement
Today, the Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation named Charles Emanuel III, an edge rusher for the University of Florida, as the second 2025 recipient of its Walk-On Scholarship.
The Tampa Bay Bucs signal-caller said the program reflects the values that carried him through his own journey from walk-on to starter.
Emanuel joined the University of Florida as a preferred walk-on in 2024 after a standout career at Lake Nona High School in Orlando, where he played in the Elite 100 Prospect Senior All-Star Game.
In his application, Emanuel wrote, “Resilience does not just show up when things go wrong. Resilience is built in the moments when you choose not to give up.”
His words echoed the philosophy that defined Mayfield’s career, which began as an unheralded walk-on and culminated with the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.
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“Seeing Charles use his experiences to drive him to be better, both on and off the field, stood out the most to me,” Baker said. “We are honored to help him achieve his goals and dreams.”
Emily Mayfield added that recognizing a Florida student-athlete was particularly meaningful.
“Football has brought our family so many blessings, and being able to award our second scholarship to a student-athlete from our adopted home truly makes it even more rewarding,” Emily said.
Why it matters
Mayfield’s journey from walk-on to NFL quarterback, now leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2025 season, is more than football folklore.
It is a lesson in belief.
During his college years, Mayfield became the first walk-on to start as a freshman at Texas Tech. He later transferred to Oklahoma, where he became the first walk-on to win the Heisman Trophy in 2017.
That experience of betting on himself now fuels the foundation he and Emily built together.
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The Walk-On Scholarship program, launched in 2025, supports athletes who share that drive but lack institutional backing. The inaugural award went to Jakeb Snyder of the University of Oklahoma.
With Emanuel, the foundation’s reach has expanded to Florida, a symbolic connection to the couple’s home and philanthropic focus.
What’s ahead
The Mayfield Foundation plans to continue expanding its scholarship program in 2026 and beyond, inviting applications from walk-on athletes nationwide. The next cycle opens after the spring 2026 semester.
Supporters can donate or learn more through [email protected] to help future athletes pursue their goals without the financial strain that often limits opportunity.
For Tampa Bay
For Tampa Bay’s leaders and fans watching the Buccaneers’ 2025 season unfold, the Mayfields’ story resonates deeply.
Their approach blends personal narrative with social investment, showing that storytelling and legacy building are not just moral choices but brand strategies that last.
In a region known for athletic excellence and civic generosity, their model reflects what is happening locally. Companies and individuals are linking personal purpose with community outcomes.
Business owners can take note. Philanthropy that aligns with one’s own story carries more credibility and long-term impact than transactional giving.
Just as Mayfield turned his walk-on identity into a platform for empowerment, Tampa Bay executives can turn their formative challenges into programs that help others succeed.
Get involved
If the Mayfields’ initiative inspires you:
- Support or sponsor student-athlete scholarships. Connect with universities or local foundations that bridge academics and athletics.
- Tell your story. Use your own entrepreneurial or professional setbacks as the foundation for giving. Authenticity builds connection.
- Invest in mentorship. Walk-on athletes, like early-career professionals, thrive when belief meets opportunity.
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The takeaway
Emanuel’s story is about more than a scholarship. It is about self-determination, a theme that resonates far beyond football.
The Mayfields have turned a personal narrative of perseverance into a blueprint for impact.
Resilience, when reinvested, multiplies.
For more information on the Baker and Emily Mayfield Foundation, click here.
The Baker and Emily Mayfield Foundation is nominated for a TBBW 2026 Philanthropists of the Year award. The event will be held at Armature Works on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.
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