Doug Donley

Douglas Max Donley (born February 6, 1959) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys between 1981 and 1984. He played college football at Ohio State University and was drafted in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft.

Early years

Donley attended Cambridge High School (Class of 1977), where he was a three-sport standout, football, track and basketball, earning the nickname 'White Lightning' for his blazing speed.

On the gridiron, Donley was a three-year letterman at running back for the Bobcats, finishing with a career total of 2,572 rushing yards. He also had 226 yards receiving and 1,028 yards in kick returns for a career all-purpose yardage total of 3,826 yards to go with 31 touchdowns.

In track, Donley won the OVAC Class 4-A championship in the long jump as a junior (1976) with a leap of 21 ft. 2.5 in. and was a double-winner at the conference meet as a senior (1977) - winning the long jump (21-10.75 and the 220-yard dash (22.4 seconds), helping the Bobcats to the OVAC team title. He earned All-Eastern District honors in the 100-yard dash and was recognized as a high school All-American in track.

In basketball, Donley was hampered by a shoulder injury as a senior, but still managed to score 10 points per contest and had a school-record 17-assist game.^[1]

College career

Widely recruited for football, he accepted a scholarship to the Ohio State University, where as the fastest player on the team, he was moved to wide receiver and also to reduce the impacts he would receive on his problematic shoulder.

In 1980, he played in his fourth bowl and was named All-Big Ten and honorable mention All-American. He stands among the school's all-time leaders in career yards per reception (21.2, second); receiving yards (2,252, fourth); touchdowns (16, fifth); and receptions (106, tied for ninth). He was the team's leading wide receiver from 1978 to 1980.

His jersey was retired by his high school, he was inducted into the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame and the Cambridge High School Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys liked his athletic potential and ignored his chronic shoulder injury, selecting him in the second round (53th overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he was the second fastest player on the team behind Tony Dorsett.^[2]

In 1984 he started 9 games over Mike Renfro,^[3] but was limited by shoulder and hamstring injuries. That year he also participated in the Pro Football 60-yard dash at the Dallas Times Herald Invitational Track Meet, where he placed fourth with a time of 6.33 seconds.^[4]

Donley had a short career because of injuries and was forced into early retirement,^[5] after the Cowboys waived him injured in April 1985. In his career he had 55 receptions for 898 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Chicago Bears

After originally announcing his retirement in 1985,^[6] the next year he was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Bears,^[7] reuniting with head coach and former Cowboys assistant coach Mike Ditka. He was looked upon to replace the injured Dennis McKinnon,^[8] but Donley also ended up being placed on the injured reserve list on September 6, after breaking a bone in his hand.^[9] He wasn't re-signed at the end of the season.

Personal life

Donley is owner and president of Advantage Hole in One in Dallas, Texas.He also has 2 kids:Jake and Drew Donley.

References

External links

• Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame Bio
• Time and Change, Doug Donley