Koby Bretz stood at the edge of the Nebraska football facility, the cold December wind biting at his face, but it wasn’t the weather that made him shiver. He’d made his decision—again.
The transfer portal. He had entered it once before, unsure of where he stood in the eyes of the coaches, uncertain if his place on the team was secure. After months of contemplation, he had returned to Nebraska, determined to prove himself. But now, standing there in the bitter chill, Koby felt that same weight again, heavier this time. His re-entry into the portal wasn’t born out of doubt; it was born out of realization.
In his first year with Nebraska, Koby had felt the thrill of success. The hours spent on the field with his teammates, running drills and perfecting his craft, had ignited something inside him. A sense of pride and ambition that pushed him beyond his limits. But something about the atmosphere on the team had changed. The competition felt stiffer, the pressure heavier. Coaches came and went, and with each transition, Koby felt less of a connection with the staff that had initially recruited him. His role on the field, though solid, had not grown as he had hoped. There had been glimpses of brilliance—an interception in a key game, a solid tackle to stop a would-be touchdown—but nothing that cemented his status as an undeniable starter.
The idea of leaving again was not one he relished, but the more Koby thought about it, the more he realized that his time in Nebraska might be coming to an end. The program had undergone a significant shift, one that he wasn’t sure he could fit into anymore. There was a new wave of recruits, a new coaching staff with their own philosophies, their own vision. The future felt uncertain, and his place in it felt even more so.
Koby’s mind wandered back to the moments when he had felt the most alive on the field. The thrill of being in a game that mattered, the roar of the crowd as his name echoed through the stadium. He had seen teammates rise to fame, transferring to schools with better systems, better opportunities. He knew the reality: if he wanted to make it to the next level, he needed to be somewhere where he could thrive, where his talents would be fully realized. He couldn’t afford to waste time in a place where his future remained in limbo.
Despite the disappointment he felt, Koby knew this was a necessary step. He’d learned a lot in his time at Nebraska. The coaching staff had pushed him harder than he ever thought possible. The training, the conditioning, the long nights spent reviewing film—it had all made him better. But he had reached a crossroads. To continue growing, he needed a change, a new environment, a fresh start.
Koby’s decision was not one of anger or resentment. He had nothing but respect for the program that had given him his shot in the first place. The fans, the traditions, the blood, sweat, and tears—it had all been part of his journey. But the moment had come for him to carve a new path. He knew he had the talent, the drive, and the discipline to succeed. Now, he just needed the right opportunity.
As he pressed the button to re-enter the transfer portal, Koby took a deep breath, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. It wasn’t easy, but it was right. His next chapter was out there, waiting to be written. And Koby Bretz was ready to take control of his destiny, wherever that might lead him.