American football player Diego Fagot, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, plays linebacker for the Navy Midshipmen. Baltimore announced that they have signed the former Midshipman on Monday.
The team’s current number 54 jersey belongs to Fagot. The decision to sign Fagot was taken a day after the Naval Academy granted the linebacker and three other players permission to continue and pursue careers in professional sports
The Navy has granted an exception for Fagot and three other individuals, who are not required to immediately commit to five-year military service after graduating from the academy.
Athletes who are given permission to pursue a career in athletics are not commissioned as officers until their sporting careers are over, at which point they start their five-year minimum necessary military service.
For the Navy football team, Fagot was a force. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Fagot is a two-time first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection who had 94 tackles last season and was named the Shrine Bowl defensive MVP, but he was not selected in the 2022 draft.
Despite their 4-8 record, he registered 282 tackles (35.5 for a loss), 9.5 sacks, two interceptions, six forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. When OTAs start this week, he will get the chance to resume fighting against the Ravens’ inside linebacker group.
Baltimore also signed inside linebackers John Ross of Michigan and Zakoby McClain of Auburn, both of whom went undrafted.