BATON ROUGE - Devon Gales took a life-changing hit in a football game against the Georgia Bulldogs last fall, and ever since then he's been fighting his way back to a full recovery at an Atlanta hospital. On Saturday, the Jaguar Nation welcomed him back home.

After his flight touched down in Baton Rouge, Gales headed straight to the Southern University campus to receive his well-deserved welcome home. As he and his family got off the plane, an impromptu pep-rally awaited to get the tribute started. Live music and fire trucks were also a part of the enthusiastic salute.

.@IAmDevonGales welcomed home in style with water canon salute at @BTRairport pic.twitter.com/ASBHglYab8

— BrettBuffingtonWBRZ (@BrettBuffington) March 5, 2016

When asked if he was still going to hit that corner route he was so well-known for, Gales simply smiled and said he's going to hit, but not going to hit it too hard. That was not the only smile the charming Gales would unleash on the day as he experienced an emotional reunion with teammates he hasn't seen since last September.

The mayor just declared it Devon Gales Day in Baton Rouge.. @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/1IF4uwPJfy

— BrettBuffingtonWBRZ (@BrettBuffington) March 5, 2016

Gales graduated from months of rehab where he enthusiastically took the exercises and activities he would need to regain the capacity for movement of which his injury robbed him. An organization is helping to raise money to build the Gales family a new home in the Baton Rouge area to help accommodate his needs. The university also announced they will be giving Gales a full-ride scholarship so that he can go on to earn both his Undergraduate and Master's degrees.

Gales was honored in front of a large crowd at Saturday's Jaguars basketball game, too.