National Football League

O'Brien spurns draft to re-enlist

Published Apr. 16, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Brandon O’Brien was hoping to catch on with an NFL team this after serving four years in the Marine Corps.

After Monday’s Boston Marathon explosions, though, O’Brien decided to re-enlist, according to Andy Fenelon of NFL.com. O’Brien’s agent told Fenelon the events “left a big hole in his heart.”

The 30-year-old previously walked on to the University of Kentucky football team in 2000, according to a feature from Yahoo! Sports. After quitting the sport to help out monetarily at home, O’Brien enlisted in the Marines in 2005.

After serving, the wide receiver enrolled at Montana State Northern University and set school records for touchdowns in a game, receiving yards in a game and receiving touchdowns in a season. O’Brien participated in the NFL’s regional combine in Houston, Tex., on Feb. 16 and at Montana State Northern University’s pro day on March 18.

The wideout was hoping to catch on as a special teamer either in the draft or as a rookie free agent.