Some choose to run away from their regrets. Marvin Bracy is racing back toward his.
Nearly four years after he walked away from his football scholarship at Florida State University to chase a professional track career, Bracy was back inside FSU’s Indoor Practice Facility on Tuesday as a late addition for the Seminoles’ annual Pro Day.
“I couldn’t shake the feeling,” Bracy said of his once-promising football career. “I had to at least give it a try.”
Bracy came to FSU as a four-star recruit in the class of 2012. He was expected to compete for early playing time at wide receiver and also run sprints for the Seminoles’ track team. He had offers from virtually every major program, including Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Florida.
But after redshirting as a freshman -- FSU’s coaches named him the Scout Team Player of the Year on offense -- Bracy missed the following spring with a hamstring injury. Then in early May of 2013, after weeks of deliberating, he decided to put college on hold and pursue his track career full-time.
“I just kept going back and forth with myself,” Bracy said of his month-long internal debate.
He recalled waking up each morning feeling as if he would stick with football and stay in college. Then as each day wore on, he would feel the desire to turn pro and sign an endorsement deal with Adidas.
On May 1, he packed his belongings and started driving home to Orlando.
“The second I pulled away from Tallahassee in my car, I was like, ‘Dang, man,’” Bracy said.
By the time he got to Interstate-10, Bracy felt the urge to turn around and drive back to campus.
Instead, he kept driving.
Over the next three years, Bracy would enjoy success at the highest levels of track and field. Last summer, he qualified for the U.S. Olympic team and competed in the 100 meters at the Rio Games. He narrowly missed the finals but felt good about his performance.
