The experience made it all worth it for Miami Hurricanes receiver Stacy Coley.
Last year he contemplated leaving after his junior season for the NFL but decided to put off becoming a professional. It provided 12 more months of hanging out with teammates he built a strong bond with the past four years.
It also gave him chance to earn a college degree in business, which he will receive next spring. He considered it time well spent as he awaits a bigger payday at the next level.
"Most definitely," Coley said. "For one, just finishing the school year with my education and just having another year with my teammates.