Eric Kettani, a Washington Redskins fullback who had to leave the Patriots' practice squad after being called up to active duty in 2011, was given a big promotion this week to Lieutenant from his previous rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.

The ceremony was done at Redskins Park in front of many other Washington players, while Kettani was still sweating from practice.

"It was awesome. They're my teammates and my friends," Kettani said of having his teammates at the ceremony. "They saw me putting my stuff on downstairs and they were surprised. "[They] asked what I was doing and they were excited to come up here. I guess they like me."

The Naval Academy grad had 'Skins coach Mike Shanahan, assistant head coach/running backs coach Bobby Turner and his father pin all his lieutenant bars in the ceremony over the weekend, according to Redskins.com

"They were both really honored to do that," Kettani told the website of Shanahan and Turner. "They're both big mentors in my life right now. I'm excited to have them do it and also my father to put the cover on."

Kettani played on the Redskins' practice squad last season and was re-signed to a futures contract in January.


(h/t USA Today's For the Win)