This weekend, Penn grad Frank Duong learned he was no longer a walk-on on the Purdue football team. The Boilermakers are rewarding him with a full scholarship, Frank's family tells Newscenter 16.

It's been quite the journey for "Frank the Tank."

When Duong graduated from Penn, he had all intentions of leaving his football career behind. Duong became a member of the Purdue Track and Field team as a freshman.

But Duong quickly yearned to be back on the gridiron. So in the spring of 2006, as a 2nd semester sophomore, he walked-on to the football team.

That fall, he began his college football career as an academic junior, but as a freshman in football.

He quickly made his mark on special teams. Purdue head coach Joe Tiller says Duong excels because he plays with "reckless abandon."

Last year, Duong continued to make his mark on special times while also seeing time in the Boilermaker secondary.

This fall, he figures to see significant playing time at safety.

All the hard work has truly paid off.

Duong did not play against Notre Dame last year due to injury. He said that week, it really bothered him to miss that game.

But on September 27th, Duong will get to play the Irish and he will do so in South Bend. It will be the second time he will face Notre Dame at the Stadium, but now he will do so as a scholarship safety and not as a freshman walk-on.

The 5th-year senior has another year of eligibility left after this season, but he does not intend to use it.