'It's Time': Sacred Heart's Julius Chestnut Leaving To Pursue NFL

FAIRFIELD, CT —All signs pointed to Sacred Heart senior running back Julius Chestnut pursuing an NFL career when he became the school's first player ever named to the Hula Bowl, a senior all-star game, earlier this month.

On Dec. 21, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back from Bowie, Maryland, made it official on his Twitter account, announcing: "It's time," with a clock emoji. Chestnut still had a season of eligibility remaining.

"First, I would like to thank my family and friends for helping me become the man I am today," Chestnut wrote. "I would also like to thank the Sacred Heart coaches and community for giving me the opportunity to not only pursue my lifelong dream but to also further my education.

"It has been a great 4 years at Sacred Heart. But with that being said ... I will be declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Hula Bowl, which takes place January 15 in Orlando, Florida, will give Chestnut a chance to show NFL scouts what he can do.

Normally played in Hawaii, the 2022 game was moved to the Bounce House — the stadium at the University of Central Florida in Orlando — due to reconstruction work at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

This year's rosters feature plenty of talent from big-time college programs like: Notre Dame, Texas, Nebraska, Florida, Oklahoma State, Miami and LSU.

The day after Christmas, the Hula Bowl officially touted Chestnut's appearance with a message on Twitter.

"We're looking forward to small school standout RB from Sacred Heart, Julius Chestnut taking the big stage in the Bounce House next month!"

The Hula Bowl also will give Chestnut an opportunity to show he has bounced back from an injury-marred season in which Chestnut played in just five games —rushing for 542 yards on 91 carries — after spraining his right knee in the season opener against Bucknell.

The Pioneers ended up going 8-4 and winning the Northeast Conference title, though lost to Holy Cross in the first round of the playoffs.

Chestnut truly made a name for himself in the spring of 2021, after the 2020 fall season had been postponed because of the pandemic.

In a five-game spring season, Chestnut ran for 889 yards and nine touchdowns, catching three more touchdowns. He was named the NEC Offensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, presented to the outstanding offensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.