Bentley Hanshaw - Guided by Faith

Note: Story provided by @FanWord and is the feature story in Saturday's Flames Illustrated Game Day Program

Throughout the years, I've heard players say instead of choosing football, the sport chose them due to their natural size, strength, and athleticism.

But my story's a little different.

My dad played football for the San Francisco 49ers, so football's in my DNA.

From the time I was born, that's all I knew.

I could probably catch a football before I could even walk, so I always knew I was going to be a football player when I got older, just like my dad.

As integral as that sport's been in my life and my family's life, it's not my entire life. From a young age, I was cognizant enough to know that there are bigger things than football.

Starting with faith.

My faith is central to everything I do, including the mission trip I took to Sydney, Australia after I redshirted during my freshman season at BYU.

It wasn't easy putting my football career on hold and seeing all my friends graduate before me these last few years, but I wouldn't trade that experience for the world.

It's helped shape me into the person I am today, and it gave me the clarity I needed to carve my own path in my collegiate journey.

As a California kid, I never thought I'd be across the entire country playing football at Liberty University, but my faith and my football career led me to Lynchburgh, Virginia, and it's exactly where I was meant to be.

Feeling Right at Home

At 24, I'm the old guy on the team and around campus.

Some of my teammates like to give me a hard time here and there, but it doesn't bother me. I just let them know how much more mature, wise, and knowledgeable I am.

But in all seriousness, the advantage of being an older college athlete is knowing the sense of direction in my career. Once I returned from my mission, I spent two more seasons at BYU before I decided I needed a change of scenery.

This was in December of 2021, and I needed to make a decision by January in order to get enrolled and participate in spring ball so I wouldn't fall behind.

When I put my name in the transfer portal, I was looking for a school that would give me a fresh start and an opportunity to make an immediate impact on the field.

And Liberty was one of those schools that showed genuine interest in me.

When I first arrived on campus, it blew me away. The high standards, the facilities, the need for my position — Liberty was everything I was looking for and more.

The academic and moral standards here are similar to BYU's, so it felt somewhat familiar, and I was excited to turn Liberty it my new home.

Preparation Through Distance

My faith has guided me in every aspect of my life, and it undoubtedly directed me right here. After playing here last season, I've been blessed to be surrounded by like-minded classmates and teammates who share similar ethics and values on and off the field.

While I couldn't be more grateful to represent this university and program, I'm uncertain I would've ended up at Liberty without my mission to Sidney.

Taking a two-year break from football was a decision that was rooted in my faith and family tradition. It was a chance for me to step outside of my comfort zone and grow spiritually and emotionally.

During my time in Sydney, I had the opportunity to see and do incredible things, meet amazing people, and strengthen my relationship with God. It was a struggle at times being so far away in a completely foreign environment, but the lessons and memories I gained were invaluable.

I didn't know it at the time, but that devotional journey fully prepared me for my time here at Liberty. While Liberty obviously isn't as far away from home as Sidney, it's still a few thousand miles away, and without that experience, I don't think I would have been ready to take on this adventure on the other side of the country.

Making My Dreams a Reality

I earned my undergraduate degree last December and am on track to graduate this upcoming December with my MBA, so I'm planning for this to be my final season at Liberty.

From an academic standpoint, earning my master's has been a goal of mine since I started my college career, and I'm excited to see it come to fruition in a few months.

When it comes to my career on the field, following in my dad's footsteps has always been the plan. I'm going to do everything I can to have a great season and put myself in the best possible position to make it to the next level.

Since I was a little kid, I've dreamed about being invited to the NFL Combine and showcasing my skills in front of NFL coaches and executives. But no matter how the season goes and regardless if I get invited to the Combine or not, I'm going to prepare as much as I can and hope for the best.

Football has provided me with countless opportunities for growth, both personally and athletically. I may not know exactly what the future holds, but I am confident in my ability to seize every opportunity and make the most of it.

The game of football has taught me many lessons about humility and perseverance, and my faith has guided me in staying grounded and focused on what truly matters.

While my time at Liberty has been brief, this university has undoubtedly made me a better person and player.

And for that, I'll be forever grateful.

Bentley Hanshaw - Guided by Faith

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