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Highly touted quarterback Brock Berglund won't rush to make a snap decision on his next school.
Since being granted his release from the University of Kansas in January, Berglund has been roaming the country in search of just the right campus and just the right fit for his talented right arm.
He's been given a second chance to make another impression and he's carefully weighing his options.
So far, Berglund has talked to at least one coach from every major conference in the nation. He's set to take an official visit at Mississippi next weekend after already chatting with schools such as UCLA, UNLV, Miami and Utah.
Oh, and he also made a stop at Liberty University, the only program in the Football Championship Subdivision he's considering. And that was just because of his relationship with Flames coach Turner Gill, who recruited Berglund to Kansas before being fired.
This time around, Berglund feels more educated about the recruiting process. When he was at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo., Berglund was easily impressed - by a weight room, practice facility or a campus.
Now, the 19-year-old is making more of a business decision: Does the coach's style fit his game? Is it a stable environment? Does it feel right?
''It's so different with what matters this time,'' Berglund said in a phone interview. ''I just want a place where I feel comfortable.''
Understandable, especially after his public spat with the Jayhawks.
Soon after Charlie Weis was brought on as the new coach at Kansas, he denied Berglund's release without giving a reason, prompting Berglund to seek legal representation.
The school's student-athlete appeals board eventually ruled in Berglund's favor, though Weis announced the decision in a blistering press release: ''I believe no individual should be more important than the team,'' he said. ''Brock did not see it that way.''
Berglund's time at Kansas was tumultuous. He didn't practice with the Jayhawks last season as he dealt with an assault charge, which has since been dismissed.
And because of some technicalities concerning his enrollment at Kansas, Berglund said he may actually still get five years to play with his new school and that the mandatory transfer rule - where he has to sit out a year - may be re-examined as well. He and his attorney are talking to the NCAA about those issues.
Coming out of high school, Berglund was a coveted four-star recruit who received interest from schools such as UCLA, Boise State and Vanderbilt. He originally committed to Colorado, but backed out after the Buffaloes fired coach Dan Hawkins.
On the market again, he's receiving just as many looks. He said he's also visited with North Texas, Florida International and SMU. The Buffs haven't reached out to him.
''At this point, I really don't have a pecking order,'' Berglund said. ''I've just started on the trail here. I'm really prioritizing my reasons, focusing on compiling data. There's no rush.''
Had he been released from his scholarship by Kansas earlier than late January, Berglund could have possibly enrolled at a new school in time to go through spring practices. But it didn't pan out.
Berglund's not picky about the style of offense he wants to play or how many quarterbacks a school may already have on the roster. He just wants a fair chance to step on the field and compete.
''At this point, just short of the triple-option, I can work my way into the offense,'' Berglund said. ''The spread, West Coast, it doesn't matter so much the offense; I have time to learn it. I feel like I can adapt.''
As he ponders his choices and with no classes to attend, Berglund has settled into a routine of lifting weights four times a week and throwing at least three days to anyone he can round up. The 6-foot-3 Berglund has even added 25 pounds of muscle, which he feels will translate on the field.
''I'm absolutely looking forward to getting through this process and moving on to the next chapter of my life,'' Berglund said. ''This last year has been pretty taxing. I'm ready for a fresh, positive start. I'm ready to be a part of a team again.''
