Former Big 22 player overcomes obstacles, returns to field

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Robert Washington Jr., a Big 22 player to watch and one of the state's top running backs, stepped onto the field for a football game for the first time in 315 days.

"It wasn't the school or the football it was the home life it was the issues at home really what took a toll on me," Washington said.

Washington left North Carolina in February for Connecticut to live with his mother but that situation did not work out and he became homeless, depressed and desperate for help.

"I'm just thinking 'this is a bad situation how am I going to make it out? Who is going to help me get out of this?'" Washington said.

He reached out to members of his Gaston County church and before long he was on a Greyhound bus back to North Carolina.

"When I'm coming back, I'm just thinking 'wow, I have been through a lot what am I going to do at this point.

He moved in with his Pastor and enrolled at East Gaston High School and now it was a matter of getting back on the football field.

Promotional pictures surfaced of Washington in a Mountain Island Charter jersey and they were being used to make it appear he had been practicing with the Raptors, a team he never practiced with.

That would've made him ineligible to play for East Gaston high.

The adults who were handling the situation they said you shouldn't have to deal with something like that you should worry about your grades.
 
Former Rep. John Torbett to the Governor's Office, a team pleaded Robert's case to Gaston County.

Washington was cleared two weeks ago and returned to the field Friday night.

"(I'm) just really focused on being a high schooler instead of all the stuff outside that was trying to stop me from being what I wanted to be that's how I got through it," Washington said.

Statement from Washington:

“I want to thank God for all the people that he placed in my life at a most difficult and disturbing time. People that know the facts about the entire situation and cared about me as a person, not a football player.

Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell, Honorable Judges Hoyle, Gingles, Lands, Jackson and my attorney Mr. Jim Funderburk.  I especially would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Rep. John A. Torbett (R), of N.C. House District 108, for overseeing this whole process. They spoke with me regularly and gave me their personal numbers. Even though Rep. Torbett had numerous meetings concerning the North Carolina budget, he still made time to speak with me. Rep. Torbett informed Gov. Pat McCrory's Office which also took interest in this matter. There are no words to express the gratitude that I have for the Gaston County judicial system, The North Carolina Governor’s Office, Mr. Jim Funderburk and especially Mr. and Mrs. Representative John A. Torbett.”

Cox Media Group