WESSON — Javon Washington learned first hand what it was like to go from a super star to being on the injured list.

The former Natchez High School standout came to Co-Lin Community College with high hopes in 2012, but one wrong move turned his career path around.

Washington tore his ACL in football practice, and was forced to sit out his entire freshman season.

“I was hoping for the best, but I knew something was wrong, because I couldn’t walk,” Washington said. “I was heart broken. My coach just told me that I had to sit out and that I can just come back next year.”

Though the injury was the last thing he expected, Washington said he learned a lot from it that helped him prepare for the 2013 season.

“You can’t take anything for granted, because you never know what may happen,” he said.

Rehabilitating his knee was hard enough without having to watch his teammates play every week without him, he said.

But the main thing that kept Washington motivated to push through the pain and get back out on the field was his family.

“I was just thinking about my family,” he said. “I couldn’t give up because it gets hard going from a high school super star to being out with an injury.”

Washington retained the strength in his knee and played significant minutes as a wide receiver for the Wolfpack.

He said his most fond memory so far is his first touchdown catch against Southwest Community College.

“I ran a dig route towards the end zone and I made a good catch,” Washington said. “I knew I was going to score because we ran the play in practice, and coach told me I would be open on that play and all I had to do was catch it and it’s guaranteed.”

Washington recorded seven receptions for 48 yards, 6.9 yards per catch, and one touchdown this past season.

Despite a fresh start to his football career, Washington said he plans to rejoin the Wolfpack baseball team as a pitcher in the fall after leaving to stay strictly committed to football.

“I kind of missed it,” he said. “I was a really good pitcher, but I lost the skill level in college ball. My family wants me to go out there and play so I’ll probably go back out towards the fall.”

Washington said he is still deciding what four-year university to attend once graduating from Co-Lin in 2015, but he said his top choices are Alcorn State University and Jackson State University.