Devon McTavish always wanted to play in Major League Soccer... But considering his current status as a regular starter with DC United, it may surprise you just how humble the James Wood graduate was coming out of college.
"I just wanted to get on a roster my first year" says McTavish, now in his 3rd MLS season. "I was fortunate with some of the moves they made in the off-season, it gave me an opportunity last year, they put me out on the field and I guess I did a pretty good job, and they kept putting me out there."

There's no doubt, Devon's rise to prominence has been swift... but what's really impressive is how quickly DC's veteran players, like former captain Ben Olsen, have come to respect their young teammate.
"Some guys can pull it off where in public they're a nice kid and behind the scenes not so much" notes the 10 year MLS veteran, "but he's the real deal, he's a great teammate, a great guy to have watch your back out there on the field."

On the field Devon's biggest asset is his versatility. Early in his career, McTavish earned playing time as a defender, this year he's been moved up into the midfield, where Coach Tommy Soehn feels the former WVU standout makes a big difference.
"Devon's come a long way since we first picked him up" says Soehn, who inserted McTavish back into the starting 11 upon his return from injury. "his versatility makes him very useful for us, he's a great competitor and he's seeing a lot of minutes."

It was in the stands at RFK where Devon's love of the game grew, as a fan of DC United. Now, he's on the field every week making sure the Black and Red maintain their spot as the most dominant franchise in MLS.
"I used to come here as a kid and watch the team play" recalls McTavish, "I think it was my dream to play in the league and for this team, and for that to come true is pretty amazing".

Devon and his DC United teammates will take on the New York Red Bulls this Saturday. Another player with local ties, John Gilkerson (Handley High School), is on the New York roster.