CHARLESTON, S.C. -- When the transfer portal opened, Braylon Knauth could feel the pull so many collegiate athletes experience on an annual basis. Teammates were weighing options, exploring new destinations and making decisions that could alter their careers.

For Knauth, though, the decision to stay at The Citadel wasn't a drawn-out debate, but rather a quiet conviction.

He watched receivers he knew well enter the portal -- at least 10 from within the collegiate and high school circles he developed -- and recognized the immediate competition he'd face if he joined them. The thought lingered for a moment but never gained momentum.

"We are losing a good amount of guys to it," Knauth said. "I didn't really debate it, but it was more of a thought in the back of my head because of a lot of influence from outside. I saw a lot of people moving in and out. I knew 10 receivers that were going, and I was hesitant to hop in the portal knowing I would have to compete with 10 other guys from my area immediately."

Staying meant opportunity. It meant continuity with the teammates who had endured the earliest challenges of cadet life alongside him.

"The opportunity to be the main guy here and keep working with the guys from my class, especially through all the knob stuff and the cadet stuff, is important," Knauth added. "Another year with my close friends and Coach Drayton and the staff would be better and more ideal if I were to stay here and continue doing my thing."

In a college football landscape where movement remains constant, the sophomore's choice was rooted in loyalty -- to his team, his coaches and the unique environment of The Citadel that has already begun to shape him.


 


A Unique Place with Unmatched Lessons

The Citadel has never been a typical college experience. The military structure, the discipline and the daily expectations create an environment that tests and molds everyone who steps onto campus. For Knauth, those challenges have become invaluable lessons.

"It's definitely different. It's a very unique school," Knauth noted. "But it does teach you a lot of things, whether about organization, about how you present yourself, how you carry yourself day-to-day."

Some of those lessons come in dramatic fashion.

"What other school has three helicopters landing on their field right in front of your where you sleep?" he continued, laughing. "That's pretty crazy, but there's also, you know, the rough times going through the process. You're getting yelled at a lot, but you're also getting corrected for things that you're going to need later on in life."

Those corrections, Knauth said, extend far beyond football. "Knowing how to iron, knowing how to present yourself, how to come across to someone else, make a good first impression, keeping yourself looking good, acting the right way. Just overall being a better person, and learning from the leadership that you have. What to do and what not to do."

The constant rotation of leaders -- upperclassmen and cadet officers alike -- has given Knauth a front-row seat to examples both good and bad.

"You learn from those people what they did right and what they did wrong," he concluded. "As you carry that on to the field and past football, you kind of get that sense of, 'Alright, this is how I need to approach this situation. This is how I shouldn't approach this situation.'"


 


Growth, Leadership and the Offseason Ahead

With departures in the wide receiver room, both from the portal and graduation, Knauth knows he's stepping into a larger role. He embraces the responsibility but also sees leadership as a shared effort.

"I think, also, the younger guys are kind of seeing this as an opportunity to step up as well," he noted. "Obviously, I want to take that leadership role and help everyone toward the right place, but at the same time, I think it's a group effort."

The group's cohesion has already begun to take shape, especially with a veteran offensive line returning and quarterback Quentin Hayes back under center.

"The O-Line coming back, there's a lot of veterans in that group, a lot of guys who've seen a lot of games," Knauth added. "Quentin has seen a lot of games, played in most of them, and he'll be a huge contributor. He's already started, and we've already started playing catch and running routes in this offseason, and he's really making an effort to get tight with the receivers."

Those offseason sessions aren't just about reps, they're about communication and trust. While the bonds between teammates solidifies on and off the field, the Florida native denoted the coaching staff has also begun to develop and foster their own relationships with the returners as well.

"He'll sometimes come in there, try to have a conversation with us, and let guys say their piece on different things," Knauth said of offensive coordinator Lamar Owens. "He really helps in bringing that cohesion and he also really listens to people. If you have something you want to say to him, he's never going to shoot it down or be like, 'I don't want to hear that right now.' He'll always be open."

That openness, Knauth continued, has built a foundation for growth. "I feel like we have some of the best coaches in the FCS. It really helps that they've also been either here or similar academy-types so they kind of know what we go through day-to-day. There's a lot of, 'We understand what that was. We went through it too,' and just their experience with this institution and the military culture."

It's the kind of environment, he believes, that fosters long-term development.

"That's big for developing loyalty," Knauth noted. "You never feel like you've hit a ceiling with them."


 


Breaking the Glass Ceiling

For Knauth and his teammates, the path forward is clear.

"I feel we just have a glass ceiling we have to break through right now," he remarked. "Every single year it's felt we've slowly put some cracks in it. It feels as of right now, between the guys we're planning to bring in, the coaching staff and the guys who stayed that we're just ready to break through that."

His confidence isn't just talk, it's a reflection of the work already underway. "If we do what I know we can do as a team, as a unit, we can definitely take this team to a new level."

In a sport defined by change, Knauth's decision to stay is a reminder that sometimes the best move is to stay put. At The Citadel, that means embracing the grind, leaning into the brotherhood and trusting that loyalty and hard work will carry them forward.