CHARLESTON, S.C. -- When teammates across college football entered the transfer portal, Maurice Bonneau Jr. made a quieter choice. He stayed. For the defensive lineman at The Citadel, the answer was simple, and deeply personal.

"Coach [Raleigh] Jackson is probably one of the best coaches I've been around," Bonneau Jr. said. "He coaches you hard and he's gonna demand your best each and every day. I like that about him."

The relationships he's built with his coaching staff have grounded him. After spending time with both Defensive Coordinator Raleigh Jackson along with defensive line coach Roberto Pinilla, he's found mentors who challenge him and believe in him.

"Coach Pinilla, he's another really good coach," Bonneau Jr. added. "He's been a great coach for me. He's really been helpful throughout this whole entire process from day one…that relationship really means a lot to me."

Head coach Maurice Drayton's leadership has only reinforced Bonneau Jr.'s decision to stay.

"He is a great head coach," Bonneau Jr. remarked. "I love what he's done with the program. I've seen improvement throughout the program since they've been here. We're on an incline, if you say."

For Bonneau Jr., staying wasn't just about football. It was about loyalty -- to his coaches, his teammates, and the culture they've built together.


 


Brotherhood in the Locker Room

If coaches set the standard, teammates set the tone. The bond in The Citadel's locker room is what keeps Bonneau Jr. anchored.

"The locker room, the guys in the locker room that I've been playing with…a lot of those guys, especially on the D-Line, Chris Benton -- me and him, I've built a great relationship with those guys," Bonneau Jr. said. "Love those guys to death. They'll most likely be at my wedding, so I wouldn't replace that for anything."

He couldn't imagine walking away from the group that's grown together over the years.

"I couldn't look at those guys and tell them that, 'No, I'm leaving y'all. I'm checking out on y'all.' I couldn't do that," Bonneau Jr. noted. "We've been through the grind for four years now, and it's been a good time."

Even as the roster evolves, the pride in watching younger players develop has been one of the favorite parts of his journey with the Bulldogs.

"Watching them develop from freshmen and seeing a lot of those guys get playing time now, starting from where they were at, has been amazing," Bonneau Jr. shared. "If I was a running back, I would want our O-Line. I would definitely trust them to handle the line of scrimmage any day."


 


Building for the Future

Bonneau Jr. knows the culture Drayton has begun to develop at The Citadel is about more than one season or one record. It's about building something that lasts.

"Coach Drayton said, these past two classes that have left, 'You guys have laid the foundation for what is about to come in the coming years,'" Bonneau Jr. said. "They're going to only elevate us from here."

The redshirt junior also sees promise in the new faces joining the team, especially on defense.

"So far, the transfers we have on defense, there are numerous guys that can help us out pretty significantly and reinforce us in areas we need," he added. "I'm very excited to see them on this field in the spring. I can't wait to get it this summer and work out with them, just build that relationship."

The pipeline of talent, combined with the culture that's taken root, gives Bonneau Jr. confidence about the program's direction.

"Culture-wise, energy-wise, Coach Drayton's energy is unmatched and I love it," he noted. "Even after a loss, when he gets up there and starts coaching us up, he's done a great job with us."


 


The Promise of The Citadel

The Citadel's influence extends well beyond the football field. For Bonneau Jr., the school's network and reputation have shaped his vision for life after the game.

"Every semester, it feels like every class will have alumni come back to visit and present on some stuff in construction engineering," he remarked. "These guys are at the top of their companies, if not a couple of steps from the top. It's all about the ring and alumni association, the weight that it carries is truly unmatched."

He knows that staying at The Citadel means investing in a future that reaches far beyond Saturdays in the fall. "This school will set you up for success," he concluded.

For Bonneau Jr., loyalty isn't just a word -- it's a way of life. He's chosen to stay for the people who've shaped him, the teammates who stand beside him, and the foundation they're building together. The Citadel has given him a team, a brotherhood, and a path forward, and he's determined to give it everything he has in return.