Thinking back on the fall of 2015, Juwan Green can only be thankful.
Ahead of his senior season at Martinsburg High School, Green had a basketball-first mentality before deciding to step on the gridiron.
“I wasn’t playing AAU basketball that fall,” Green recalled. “I didn’t want to sit around so I looked into football.”
The decision would likely be considered the best one Green’s made.
A Class AAA second-team all-state selection as a wide receiver, Green had 552 receiving yards and nine touchdowns for the Bulldogs in 2015.
Green, who also ran track two years at Martinsburg, went on to play at one of the top junior college football programs in the country in Lackawanna College. While there two years, his passion for football continued to increase.
“The more I played, the more I loved it,” Green said.
He caught 38 passes for 743 yards in his second season at Lackawanna. That allowed him to be the Falcons’ team MVP in 2017 before moving on to play at Division I FCS Albany.
His junior season and first at Albany gave Green an idea of what high-level college football was like.
Green finished with 23 catches for 429 yards and four touchdowns, but felt something was missing as the Great Danes struggled through a 3-8 season.
“Looking at the bigger picture, I knew if this was something I wanted to do as a career that I had to take it more serious my senior year,” Green said. “That included everything from practice to walk throughs, lifting, summer conditioning and school work.”
The approach paid off in a big way for Green, who recently completed his senior season at Albany with team bests of 83 catches, 1,386 yards and 17 touchdowns. Green’s TD reception total leads all FCS players, while he’s fourth in yards and tied for ninth in catches.
“All the expectations I had coming into this season were surpassed,” he said.
Along the way, Albany finished 9-5 and won its first playoff game in program history — a 42-14 triumph over Central Connecticut.
“Everybody wants to leave their mark and that’s what this year’s team did,” Green said. “We set the bar high for years to come. It’s an amazing feeling to be a part of something so special.”
In the Great Danes’ season-ending 47-21 loss at Montana State last weekend, Green had a highlight-worthy 58-yard touchdown reception early in the game. It was featured on ESPN’s ‘You Got Mossed’, a segment dedicated to the better catches in football from the previous week.
After entering the end zone, Green had a familiar celebration in dedication to his hometown.
“I never forget about West Virginia,” he said. “I scored 17 times and I held up ‘304’ 17 times. I always show love and support to where I came from. Not many make it out of West Virginia.”
Green’s dad, Dean, was a wide receiver at Maryland and is also a Martinsburg native.
Although Green (6-foot, 187) didn’t end up at a Power 5 school, things worked out just fine.
“It’s definitely a story to tell. I made it to the top of the college football level. Everybody has dreams to play at an Alabama or LSU. Or if you’re from West Virginia, it’s West Virginia University.
“In my case, I had to take the longer way. No matter where you end up, it’s possible to make it out. If you ball, they’ll find you. Talent pops up on the radar no matter the location.”
Green said he hopes to have an agent in the near future as he pursues a professional football career.
He has invitations to play in the NFL Draft Diamonds Dream Bowl as well as the College Gridiron Showcase.
“I’m open to everything. It’s been a short amount of time, but I enjoy playing football,” Green said. “I’m blessed to play at the next level whether it’s the NFL, CFL or any other league. I just want to ride this wave until the wheels fall off.”