photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Free State's Hyrum Vaeono (55) celebrates a sack against Olathe North with teammates Tyler Jeffries (35) and Parker Moore (8) Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at Free State High School.

Hyrum Vaeono’s phone started to blow up with text messages alerting him of the news.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia sued the NCAA in November, saying that his years spent at the junior college level should not count toward his eligibility at the NCAA level. In December, he won an injunction for an extra year of eligibility, and the NCAA granted a one-year waiver to all similarly situated athletes set to graduate following the 2024-25 term.

Vaeono had already considered playing a year of junior college before eventually reopening his college recruitment in hopes of attracting more Division I offers. Despite holding offers from schools like Utah State, New Mexico and Wyoming, Vaeono wanted to bet on himself. Add in the possibility that future years playing at the JUCO level could not end up counting toward eligibility in the NCAA, and the move made the most sense.

Vaeono committed on Jan. 20 to Butler Community College, a school in El Dorado, just outside Wichita. Vaeono is betting on himself and the Butler coaching staff’s ability to develop and refine his skills.

“The chance to be re-recruited with how the new rules are, the opportunity kind of presented itself,” Vaeono said. “In a way, I feel like it would be dumb not to take advantage of that and see what other doors come open.”

Vaeono’s relationship with the staff stood out throughout his recruitment process. Vaeono was in contact with several Division I and junior college schools. Still, between coach Brice Vignery and defensive line coach Jake Landoll, the Butler staff was a leg above the competition. In fact, it was Landoll who helped him secure some of the Division I offers that he received.

“Ultimately, that showed me that if I can get an offer like that without being at the school yet, what can happen if I play a season and get developed and get re-recruited?” Vaeono said.

Development is the most important factor for Vaeono. Wherever he went, he wanted the confidence that he would get better and become an even better prospect in a year. His first phone call with the Butler coaches lasted an hour and a half. One of the topics that came up was defensive lineman Seven Cloud, the top 2026 defensive line junior college recruit and a Georgia commit, per 247Sports Composite rankings. Vaeono can see the results of the Grizzlies’ development and believes he can emulate that same kind of success.

“It’s evidence that they’re about what they talk about,” Vaeono said. “I want to be better by the time I get out.”

The Grizzlies went 7-4 in 2024 and won a share of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference with a 5-1 conference record. They finished the season No. 12 in the NJCAA Football Poll. Vaeono hopes to play for a season before moving up to the Division I level.

For now, Vaeono continues to work out and train for the next level. It is a dream come true to be able to play in college, and he’s grateful for the journey to Butler. A large part of that is thanks to Free State and coach Kevin Stewart. From Vaeono’s progress on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom, Stewart and his staff played a critical role.

Vaeono is looking forward to the next challenge. Going from high school to college football is going to be a jump that Vaeono will have to figure out on the fly as it happens. But he bet on himself for a reason, and he’s ready to make a name for himself with the Grizzlies.