Galesburg football star picks a college: 'Everything just screamed that I should go there'

Matthew Wheaton, Galesburg Register-Mail

March 22, 2022 at 10:45 AM·4 min read

GALESBURG — Hunter DeVena played most of his high school varsity football career with a left shoulder injury.

However, he will be fully healthy once he hits the gridiron in college.

DeVena, who graduated from Galesburg High School at midterm, will suit up for the Monmouth College Fighting Scots.

"Everything about Monmouth just screamed that I should go there," DeVena said early Friday evening, while enjoying a frozen caramel latte at Innkeeper's. "I really like their coaching staff. They've been very adamant about building a relationship with me. I know them on personal level, as well as a coaching level. I think that is something that you definitely need to have.

Read more about DeVena here: 'He's everything that any coach would dream of.'

"I have a good relationship with a lot of the guys. My best friend, Rockyen Spinks (a 2021 GHS grad), goes there," added DeVena, who lined up at linebacker, tight end, running back and served as the Silver Streaks' punter. "I like their defense a lot. At least freshman year, I'll be playing the same kind of outside backer/nickel back position that I was. I'll be blitzing off the edge and stuff like that. From a football standpoint, I really felt like I fit there.

"I like the school. It's a nice campus. It's away from home but still close to home."

Shoulder surgery came in December

DeVena, who donned No. 45 for the Silver Streaks, first started having shoulder issues during his sophomore season. However, he was able to deal with them through physical therapy.

Midway through his junior season, DeVena had an MRI that showed a tear in his labrum but it wasn't bad enough to force him to miss any action. The pain intensified during DeVena's senior season, and on occasion his shoulder would pop out of place but he fought through it.

"Physically, I was definitely in a lot of pain, especially like senior year, because it just got worse and worse," DeVena said. "Mentally, I didn't let that stop me. I was still doing everything I could, and I think my senior year reflects that. It didn't slow me down or stop me, thankfully."

After the 2021 season, it was discovered DeVena had a 70% tear of his labrum, and he had surgery Dec. 6. He said his post surgery rehab is ahead of schedule.

"It's a little over three months out, and I feel pretty good," DeVena said. "I have full range of motion, and I just started restrengthening every thing around it.

"It's just a slow process, and I have to be careful with it but I'm supposed to be fully healthy by June 6 at the latest so I'll be good," added DeVena, who plans to major in business at Monmouth. "I feel like that I was pretty far ahead before surgery so I don't think it will take long for me to get back to where I need to be."

Galesburg High School senior running back Hunter DeVena scores on a long run during the Silver Streaks' 17-8 WB6 Conference win over United Township High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 at Van Dyke Field.

DeVena holds two GHS marks

On offense, DeVena had 12 catches for 199 yards and four touchdowns in 2021. He also had 19 carries for 135 yards and a pair of TDs.

DeVena ended up with 105 tackles last fall, which put him in a tie with David Vaynerman, a 2019 grad, for the single season school record. DeVena's 258 career tackles has him atop the field in the category. DeVena also holds the Galesburg school record for sacks in a career with 15.

"It was a fun time. I think I had a good high school career. I'm not disappointed in anything. I got three records so I did something," DeVena said. "The community was always supporting me. I still to this day have people recognize me that I never knew before high school football, and it's a very humbling thing to walk around and have people know your name and who you are.

"I'm definitely going to miss high school football. It was a one of a kind experience," DeVena added. "I wish we could have won a couple more games here and there but I think coach (Derrek) Blackwell is taking the program in the direction it needs to be taken. There's a great core of coaches there."

Matthew Wheaton can be reached at (309) 315-6073 or at mwheaton@register-mail.com. Follow him on Twitter @matthewlwheaton

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Football: Streaks' DeVena commits to hit gridiron for Scots

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Shoulder surgery came in December

DeVena holds two GHS marks

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