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Neuqua Valley’s Donny Navarro ready for Northwestern debut

Donny Navarro represents the new age of college football.

Freedom of movement reigns supreme in this era of player empowerment, and the Neuqua Valley graduate took his shot.

“Having a single year of college eligibility remaining, I decided to explore the (transfer) portal,” Navarro said. “I went into it with an open mind.”

He decided to transfer to Northwestern, where he is playing wide receiver and on special teams. The Big Ten university is his third school.

Lightly recruited out of Neuqua Valley, Navarro began his college career at Valparaiso in fall 2017. He prospered as a freshman, leading Valparaiso in catches, receiving yards, yards per catch, touchdown catches and receiving yards per game.

That success emboldened Navarro to make the leap to a bigger program. He transferred to Illinois and put together two solid seasons. But he also got caught in a coaching change and a shift in offensive philosophy.

The arrival of coach Bret Bielema and his run-dominant offense meant a smaller role for Navarro than he had under Lovie Smith. Navarro had 17 catches for 167 yards last season.

“I had a number of great conversations with schools that showed interest, ranging from FCS programs to Power Five conferences,” he said. “Ultimately I just believed Northwestern was the right fit for me.”

Being an older player at his third college is not an easy transition, but Navarro said he has been surprised by his adjustment.

“Coming from Illinois and knowing the history of the two schools, I didn’t quite know what to expect,” he said. “Being the new guy is a challenge, but it helps to have the players and a coaching staff that goes the extra mile.”

Navarro’s transfer overlapped with the arrival of Reggie Fleurima, who graduated early from Naperville Central to start the spring semester at Northwestern.

“Obviously, with the age difference, we didn’t play against each other, but I knew of Reggie through conversations and what I read in the newspapers,” Navarro said. “He was one of the first people I connected with.”

They established an immediate rapport.

“I love Donny,” Fleurima said. “He’s a hard worker, and he demands a lot out of himself. He is definitely a guy I look up to when it comes to getting things done and doing things the right way.”

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Navarro said he doesn’t have anything to prove at Northwestern.

“If there is an opportunity presented to me, I am going to do everything I can to win it,” Navarro said. “I don’t see it as trying to prove anything, but trusting myself and continuing to chase excellence.”

His high school coach has no doubts.

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“Donny was an outstanding leader for us and a wide receiver that I used to say could get open in a shoebox,” Neuqua Valley coach Bill Ellinghaus said. “He was an awesome kid who caught everything.”

Navarro’s travels will continue for his Northwestern debut. The Wildcats will play Nebraska in Dublin on Saturday. Coincidentally, Navarro’s Big Ten breakout was against Nebraska two years ago.

Although he has transferred twice, Navarro said he has found the right balance with academics. He earned a bachelor’s degree in information sciences at Illinois, and he is enrolled in a postbaccalaureate program at Northwestern.

He knows his college odyssey has been a bit unorthodox.

“It has been one heck of a roller-coaster ride,” Navarro said. “My college career story is not a typical one.

“It has taught me an important life lesson, which is hard work and keeping your head on the right will lead to opportunities.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.

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