Joliet Catholic's Washington makes a connection with Navy

Devean Washington tore his ACL in February of 2019.

In ordinary circumstances, this would have led to an elimination of the 6-foot-1 inch, 180-pound Joliet Catholic defensive back's senior season and put a serious crimp in his ability to land the NCAA Division I offer he desired.

But things aren't ordinary these days. So Washington was still able to fulfill his quest as to become a D-I athlete, recently committing to the United States Naval Academy.

"The thing that stood out to me the most was the benefits that come with the Navy. I thought about my future, the five years after, serving my country, will be great," Washington said. "But mainly the guaranteed money that comes with it and all the benefits that a veteran gets."

But this wasn't always the thought process that Washington connected to potentially playing at a service academy.

"They made contact with me in April, which was about three months after I tore my ACL. I didn't think much about the Navy, because I was trying to stay away from the service academies. I never really thought about serving in the military as a kid," Washington said. "I just didn't do much research about it, all that I knew about the military at the time was bad, after I saw all of the options, jobs that it provides, rather than just battling on the battlefield. I was like, this isn't what it seemed."

It also provides the possibility that two teammates from the same high school secondary could line up on opposite sides of an upcoming Army vs. Navy. Washington's teammate Jabril Williams, signed with Army in October.

"I never seen him so happy before, he was talking about two service academy DB's at the same high school," Washington said. "He was hyped for it. Now we've got this rivalry for us, hopefully we can both play as true freshmen."

With his future now set, Washington can place his focus on complete rehabbing the ACL with the hopes of being ready if the season is allowed to begin as currently scheduled in late February.

"I'd say at I'm 80%. My left knee is still feeling a little pain when I put pressure into the ground, but they say that should go away in about three months so I should be back to the 100% mark in time for the season," Washington said.

And while the season resumption for the spring is still very much up in the air, the spring season was going to be the only way Washington could potentially get a senior season.

"It would have been six months post-op, and my knee would not have been ready. When they moved the season back, that just motivated me to work harder," Washington said. "If we can play, I'll be ready."