Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – The Naval Academy is mourning the loss of a 22-year-old midshipman who was found dead in Bancroft Hall Thursday. Early Saturday morning the football team released a statement identifying the midshipman as David Forney who was the anchor of an offensive line that set a school record and led the nation in rushing. The Walkersville, Maryland native was a 2015 graduate of Georgetown Prep. He was set to graduate from the Naval Academy on May 22nd with a political science degree.
“Words cannot express our pain and sorrow,” said Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo in an online statement. He offered the team’s condolences to the Forney family. David is survived by his parents, Rick and Erika Forney, younger brothers, Chris and Erik, and sister, Rebekah.
“The Navy Football Brotherhood is not a team, we are a family. We are devastated to have lost one of our brothers. We all loved – and will always love – David,” Niumatalolo wrote.
This year, Forney started all 13 games at guard for the Midshipmen and was the anchor of an offensive line that set a school record and led the nation in rushing, averaging 360.5 yards per game.
Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk wrote, “There is no tighter bond or commitment to each other than found within the Navy football family. To lose a brother is devastating to these young men who grow closer every minute during their four years at the Academy.”
The academy has not said yet how Forney died, but Friday it said foul play is not suspected.
His funeral arrangements are still being planned.
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