Donnelly grows, develops into talented defender

There is hope for those young football players who are among the smallest players on their team and their role model just happens to wear No. 18 for the unbeaten Elgin Owls.

Colyn Donnelly is now one of the best linebackers in the state but he was anything but when he was a freshman.

“I was 14 years old and was probably 5-5 or 5-6 and I get to start and I was scared to death out there,” Donnelly said before practice Tuesday. “I was out there beside CJ Underwood, who was a senior and I thought if I just watched him I would learn something.

“When I was a sophomore, I was about 5-7 and now I’m 6-1 or 6-2 and I weighed 215 the other day. I had a growth spurt in there and I give credit to Coach (Lance) Hill. He’s our weight coach and he does a great job with our weight program.”

Now Donnelly is a team captain and the leader of one of the best defenses in Class 4A. That was not evident in the early going at Woodward Friday.

“I think the bus ride caused us to have jet lag or bus lag,” he said. “We came out a little sluggish but coach got after us a little bit and we started playing like we are capable.”

The Owls registered another shutout, their second of the season and Elgin has now outscored its four opponents 204-21.

“Shutouts are what we always strive for,” Donnelly said. “Coach Baker (Defensive Coordinator Jack) tells us that we throw zeroes which look like donuts, and I will buy them for you so that gives us added incentive. We are always trying to improve on defense.”

While the Owls were able to reach the second round of the Class 5A playoffs last season, they are now competing in 4A after the late OSSAA ruling changed the classifications dramatically for some schools.

“It was such a sudden change that we didn’t expect,” Donnelly said. “We thought we’d be in 5A forever. Now we are playing teams we are used to but we remember our freshman year and we didn’t do so hot against them. The good thing we are familiar with these programs and they are closer.”

The Owls feel they are better now than at the start of the season when they beat 5A foe MacArthur in a 28-7 game at Cameron Stadium.

“We learned a good deal in that game,” he said. “We got really tired and we had some problem with cramps. Since then we have really practiced hard and have made a good deal of improvement.”

That game did involve a subplot of sorts with the Elgin standout and a MacArthur student.

“I love to fish in my spare time but I have also started playing golf with my girlfriend, Jaycee Richard,” Donnelly said. “She was a Mac cheerleader last year and now she’s a Highlanderette and she plays for their golf team, plus she plays volleyball. We enjoy our time together, but she beats me at golf for sure.”

Obviously Donnelly has grown due to hard work and good food, some of which he can cook.

“My mom’s chicken alfredo is great and dad can cook a mean steak,” he said. “And I can cook a mean mac and cheese. You have to use the right cheeses, cheddar, gouda, Monterey Jack if you want to spice it up. That’s always a favorite.”

While his college plans hinge on what different programs need, he will get a chance to play somewhere.

“I went to a good number of camps last summer and some of them said they wanted me an inch taller, some wanted me to be a little faster, but they all said the video doesn’t lie and they will be contacting me.”

It helps to have two NCAA Division I signees on the team and a couple others who may land in DI.

“College coaches are going to find the best players, that’s what they do,” he said. “I will just keep playing hard and see what happens.”

He is being prepared by already taking several college courses as a junior and now more his senior season.

The focus now is on Elk City and just winning games.

“We can’t overlook anyone, and Elk City has some good players, so we have to be prepared,” he said.

It helps having Coach Baker watching their every move.

“Coach Baker’s favorite saying is ‘a standard is always a standard’ which means we need to be ready to play every week and be prepared for everything we are going to see,” the senior said.

“He looks all gruff, but he is fun to play for. We are lucky, this entire staff is great to play for. They treat us like family and that is what this program is all about.”