Mahogany: Chose BC return over transfer ‘rental’

• Andrea Adelson, ESPN

  • Senior WriterJul 27, 2023, 12:39 PM ET Close ACC press reporter.
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
  • Graduate of the University of Florida.CHARLOTTE, N.C.– Boston

College offensive lineman Christian Mahogany is a predicted first-round NFL draft pick, and he fielded his reasonable share of calls about whether he would consider transferring for the 2023 season.Mahogany was adamant about something: He would go back to the

Eagles to construct on his draft stock after missing all of in 2015 with a torn ACL in his best knee.”No quantity of money might take me away from a place that’s believed in me from the start,”Mahogany told ESPN on Thursday during ACC Kickoff.”Why would I leave for some cash? I resemble a rental at that point. There’s no care, there’s no love. I wished to complete here, which was my objective.”Editor’s Picks 1 Related Mahogany was ranked the No. 2 guard for the 2023 NFL draft prior to being sidelined for the season. He then had to view as Boston College coped myriad injuries and lack of experience along the offensive line en route to a 3-9 season. He did consider leaving for the NFL despite missing out on the season, but he thought it finest to return to school. ESPN draft expert Jordan Reid has Mahogany at No. 20 in his summer mock draft. “I have to go back out there and show that I’m much better than what I was,”Mahogany said.But that did not stop the calls about transferring

. Mahogany was a three-star prospect in the class of 2019 and has invested the past four seasons at Boston College, crediting coach Jeff Hafley for his faith and belief in what he could become.”BC took a chance on me, and we’re an O-line school at the end of the day, so why would I leave simply to be a six-month leasing when I could just build something unique here?”Mahogany said.”I can’t look [my colleagues] in the face and say,’I’m leaving. ‘That’s not who I am. And, reasonably, I was a high school recruit, too. They didn’t provide me in high school. So why do you want me now?”Last season, BC receiver Zay Flowers likewise went back to the Eagles after declining big-money deals to transfer. Flowers wound up entering the preliminary in the NFL draft a couple of months earlier. Hafley stated he fidgeted about what would happen with Mahogany until the day the transfer portal window closed in January. “Individuals were calling continuously,”Hafley said.” Do you know just how much cash he could have made if he went? Our players so far have actually remained, and I believe it states a lot about our group and our culture and where we’re going

, particularly after the year we had.” Mahogany said he could not wait on fall practice to begin so he can return on the field with his colleagues but also to reveal simply just how much better he is as a player.”I was informing somebody a few days ago: You either returned much better or you return worse from an injury,”Mahogany said.”There’s no the exact same, in my viewpoint. It’s been 15 long months for me, however I think I’m better. My numbers say I’m better.

The weight space says I’m better. Who I am as a person, I’m much better.” I’m a much better football player. I’m a much better trainee. I’m a better individual. So I’m delighted to finally be able to play football again. I just can’t wait. “