Top Gun’s Glen Powell Surprises UT Walk-On with Dream Scholarship
Quinn Parker here, and let me channel all the caffeine coursing through my veins into this wild Texas-sized gesture that literally stopped a team meeting in its tracks. Ready for your daily dose of feel-good celebrity news mixed with college football passion? Hold on to your coffee cups because Glen Powell—yes, that Top Gun: Maverick star—dropped a surprise scholarship on a University of Texas walk-on linebacker named Marshall Landwehr, and the reaction was priceless.
This week, UT head coach Steve Sarkisian pressed play on a video message recorded by Powell, who once roamed the Forty Acres as a student himself. In front of the entire Longhorns squad, Powell praised Landwehr’s “five years of hard work” and declared, “That’s why Texas is giving you a scholarship.” The room erupted as Landwehr, who joined the team as a walk-on in 2021 and has appeared in 15 games, was swarmed by cheering teammates (TMZ, Texas Longhorns official site). Cameras caught him fighting back tears before he stood up and told everyone, “I’ve been doing this for five years. It doesn’t get old. Keep working. This is the dream, man.”
I have SO MANY THOUGHTS. First, how amazing is it that Powell used his star power to recognize true grit instead of flashing movie premieres? And second, shout-out to Sarkisian for turning a routine meeting into a full-on celebration. The emotional high in that room was real—and if you listen closely, you can almost hear that coffee-fueled heartbeat of excitement echoing through Austin.
In case you needed context, Landwehr’s journey was not spa days and red-carpet moments. He fought for every snap, rising from practice squad hopeful to defensive contributor under relentless late-night film sessions and early-morning drills (TMZ). Fifth-year seniors don’t always get this kind of love from Hollywood royalty, but Powell—currently shooting his new “Chad Powers” series on gridirons across America—clearly remembers what it means to bleed burnt orange.
Let’s break down why this matters beyond the viral replay: Powell’s shout-out shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of college sports, those bench warriors grinding in silence until someone finally notices. Plus, it cements his status as One of the Most Generous Alumni Ever. Who wouldn’t want a cinematic pep talk right before classes or film sets? And speaking of cinema, if he can script a moment more heartfelt than this, I need tickets.
So, if your heart needed a pick-me-up between work emails or eleven rounds of caffeine, Powell’s scholarship surprise is the perfect remedy. Trust me, I’ve had way too many espresso shots to keep calm about this one!
I need to take a breath after that emotional ride.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Texas Longhorns official site
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
