HOURS AFTER RETURNING from the 2024 season opener for Iowa Western Community College, a 42-41 road win at Georgia Military College, quarterback Hunter Dekkers succumbed to his emotions.
Dekkers had just taken a significant step in his unusual comeback attempt, one he hopes will lead him to the NFL. The moment was more than a year in the making, since he played for Iowa State before permanently losing his NCAA eligibility for betting on one of the Cyclones' games.
"I literally broke down and cried, because I was so emotionally invested in just going through such an up-and-down year to get back on the field," Dekkers said.