Ryan sat on his dorm room bed, staring at the glowing screen of his laptop. The cursor blinked over the transfer application form, an undeniable reminder of the choice he was about to make. It wasn’t an easy one, but deep down, he knew it was necessary.Coming out of high school, BYU had seemed like the perfect fit. A prestigious program with a solid football tradition, a devoted fan base, and an environment that aligned with his upbringing—it had all made sense at the time. But now, after two seasons of fighting for playing time and watching his dreams of a professional career drift further away, Ryan couldn’t ignore the truth any longer. Staying here would mean settling, and settling wasn’t in his nature.His phone buzzed. It was a message from his dad: “Think carefully, son. Make sure it’s the right move.”Ryan sighed. He had thought carefully. He had spent months analyzing his situation, weighing every pro and con, and having difficult conversations with himself. He loved his teammates and appreciated his coaches, but the reality was simple—BYU wasn’t providing him the platform to showcase his abilities at the highest level. If he wanted a shot at the NFL, he needed to be somewhere that maximized his exposure, honed his skills, and gave him a real chance to shine.He thought back to last season. He had put in the work—extra hours in the weight room, countless film sessions, and relentless practice reps. But when game day came, he found himself buried in the depth chart, watching from the sidelines as others took the field. He knew he had the talent, but talent meant nothing if no one could see it.A few programs had already reached out subtly, their interest obvious despite NCAA restrictions. One in particular—a powerhouse with a proven track record of sending players to the NFL—had caught his eye. Their offensive scheme fit his skill set perfectly, and their coaching staff had a reputation for developing players like him into legitimate draft prospects.He glanced at the BYU posters on his wall, mementos of a dream that no longer felt attainable here. He had given it his best shot, but dreams evolve, and so must the dreamer. With a deep breath, he moved the cursor over the “Submit” button.Click.It was done. A wave of emotions hit him—relief, excitement, a tinge of sadness—but above all, there was clarity. Ryan wasn’t turning his back on BYU; he was chasing what he had always wanted. The journey wasn’t over; it was simply taking a different path.His phone buzzed again. This time, it was his teammate, Josh.”Bro, tell me it’s not true. Are you really leaving?”Ryan exhaled and typed back, “Yeah, man. It’s time. Gotta do what’s best for my future. No hard feelings.”The response came instantly. “Respect. Go
