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Austin Dorris had made up his mind.
If the Shadyside High School graduate was going to utilize his final year of college football eligibility, it was going to be somewhere other than Indiana University where he spent the last four years.
Even though Dorris had that thought process since about "halfway through the season," when he actually logged onto the NCAA website to begin filling out the forms needed to be a graduate transfer, it didn't make it any easier.
"It was definitely hard," Dorris said. "There's absolutely no bad blood between me and the coaches or this university. It was just a hard, necessary decision because the last thing I wanted to do was look back, later in life, and think I missed out on an opportunity."
With that mindset and his academic requirements complete -- as of his Dec. 15 graduation -- Dorris became -- in essence -- a free agent. Because Dorris red shirted his first season at Indiana and with his degree in hand, Dorris can spend his final year at another college without having to sit out a season as a transfer. He becomes a graduate transfer.
Previously, Dorris had said that a fifth-year senior usually has to be sort of asked or invited back and as of the middle of the season, he'd yet to receive that message from the Hoosiers' coaching staff.
Shortly after Indiana's last game, which was a loss to rival Purdue that denied the Hoosiers a bowl bid for the second straight season, Dorris had basically been informed that the coaches "were looking to go in a different direction."
"We just kind of parted ways," Dorris said. "Obviously, I had been thinking about this possibility, but since it's during season, I didn't want to bring any sort of attention to myself because we were all trying to win games."
Dorris completed the paperwork through the NCAA and within, seemingly, minutes, he was receiving emails and having coaches at different universities reach out to him via social media.
"You just fill out the form and you don't even have to talk to anyone," Dorris said. "You don't have to go through your previous school or anything. It's like free agency. Once you file the paper, it's like sent out to other schools and they're able to contact you."
Wanting to be as up front as possible and continue the positive relations he had with the Indiana coaches, Dorris did go formally tell them his intentions. Because he's been a 'program guy' and not caused any type of issues during his four-year stint in Blomington, the Hoosiers coaches have been helpful to the former Shadyside all-Ohioan.
"The coaches have heard from some schools and have told them good things about me and have done everything they can to help me out," Dorris said. "That really means a lot to me, too."
Coming out of high school, the Hoosiers were Dorris' lone Big Ten offer. He had much interest from the Mid-American Conference, but the challenge and dream of playing at the power five level was too much for Dorris to look past.
"Even if I could go back in time, I wouldn't change my decision (to attend Indiana)," Dorris said. "I am a competitive person by nature and I wasn't going to turn down the option or chance to play against the best."
Dorris lettered three times for the Hoosiers. He caught 4 passes for 16 yards this season, including one at Ohio State when he had a large fanbase on hand to watch. He saw action in all 12 games this year and last, while playing in seven as a red-shirt freshman in 2016.
"Playing (at this level) isn't easy by any means," Dorris said. "I dealt with some injuries along the way, which makes it even tougher. I have no regrets though."
As he prepares for the next chapter, Dorris has heard from a handful of schools already and plans to schedule visits as soon as possible with hopes of enrolling for the winter semester to be involved with his new team's spring practices.
Some of the ones Dorris mentioned are Ohio University, Bowling Green, Toledo and Ball State.
"I think going to the MAC will be the perfect fit for me," Dorris said. "I just have to find the school that works for me both academically and in terms of football. I don't want to have regrets since this is my last go at it."
Obviously, Dorris will have to act fast since many schools winter semesters begin shortly after the new year. He did point out that Bowling Green's winter semester doesn't start until Jan. 28.
"I don't have a whole lot of time," Dorris said. "I am just really feeling out the schools right now, but I know I am going to have to take some visits because I do not want to go into this blind."
Since the NCAA requires student-athletes to be enrolled in so many hours to maintain their eligibility, Dorris, who was recently named to the Academic All Big Ten Team, will be entering the graduate program at his new institution.