Collie to the NFL!

Can't say I blame him.

If I were in his shoes I would do the same thing.  He has nothing to gain by staying another year.  He wouldn't come out of next season any more attractive to the NFL than he already is now.  He would be risking injury by staying at the Y, and even as good as he is in college, an injury could take him out of consideration for the Pros much in the same way it did Luke Staley.  Playing in the NFL has always been his goal, so I say go chase your dreams while you are healthy and able to do so.

He will be impossible to replace.  In the history of BYU, even with a long list of good receivers to come through the program, they have never quite had one quite as dynamical as Austin.  Not only will his play be missed on the field but his leadership as well.  He was the one who emerged as the team leader during a season when this team sorely needed one.  

Will the Y move on and survive without him?  Sure.  It won't be easy, but the Cougs will have a cast of receivers, including the returning McKay Jacobsen, who will try to fill the void as a collective group. 

Looking at it with a "glass half full" approach, hopefully this will force Max to look the whole field and spread out his passes rather than keying in on only one receiver.  

Good luck Austin!