Christian Mahogany chose Boston College over being 'a rental' - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Boston College offensive lineman Christian Mahogany is a projected first-round NFL draft pick, and he fielded his fair share of calls about whether he would consider transferring for the 2023 season.

Mahogany was adamant about one thing: He would return to the Eagles to build on his draft stock after missing all of last year with a torn ACL in his right knee.

«No amount of money could take me away from a place that's believed in me from the start,» Mahogany told ESPN on Thursday during ACC Kickoff. «Why would I leave for some money? I'm like a rental at that point. There's no care, there's no love. I wanted to finish here, and that was my end goal.»

Mahogany was rated the No. 2 guard for the 2023 NFL draft before being sidelined for the season. He then had to watch as Boston College struggled through myriad injuries and inexperience along the offensive line en route to a 3-9 season. He did consider leaving for the NFL despite missing the season, but he thought it best to return to school. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid has Mahogany at No. 20 in his summer mock draft.

«I have to go back out there and show that I'm better than what I was,» Mahogany said.

But that did not stop the calls about transferring. Mahogany was a three-star prospect in the class of 2019 and has spent the past four seasons at Boston College, crediting coach Jeff Hafley for his faith and belief in what he could become.

«BC took a chance on me, and we're an O-line school at the end of the day, so why would I leave just to be a six-month rental when I could just build something special here?» Mahogany said. «I can't look [my teammates] in the face and say, 'I'm leaving.' That's not who I am. And, realistically, I was a high school