"When you know what you gotta do, you know what you gotta do," a celebrated college quarterback said upon announcing he's walking away from a promising football career to enter full-time ministry.
Blake LaRussa was the quarterback for Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. In the 2018 season he threw for 19 touchdowns and 3,015 yards. He was also named National Player of the Week, Conference USA Player of the Week, and C-USA honourable mention by the league's coaches throughout the year.
LaRussa was eligible to play another season. However, he announced this week that he will instead finish his degree this spring, and then move on to seminary and pursue a Master of Divinity degree in order that he may become a pastor.
"It has been an incredible journey with Old Dominion football," LaRussa said in a statement.
"I am so grateful for all my coaches and teammates who I have grown so close with these past four years.
"I am confident entering this next chapter of my life and excited to pursue what I have always known to be my heart's greatest desire, and that is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and help people find hope."
Despite losing their star quartback, LaRussa's coaches are excited for him.
Old Dominion's quartback coach, Ron Whitcomb, said "In saying all of that, those accomplishments combined don’t equal the respect I have for who Blake is as a person and everything he has taught me. Blake has found his passion off the field, and I cannot be more happy for him as a young man!"